Kanifing General Hospital sees sharp drop in neonatal sepsis cases as Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Training Programme takes root.
A vital and sustained effort to reduce preventable newborn deaths is showing promising early results at KGH. Through the ongoing IPC training programme, spearheaded in partnership with HTG and Aberdeen St. Nicholas Rotary Club, KGH has already seen a significant drop in neonatal sepsis cases, from 435 in 2023 to just 69 cases in the first five months of 2025.
Training in Action
The 4-day programme brought together staff from maternity, neonatal, and surgical departments. It featured modules on:
– Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
– Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
– Environmental cleaning and waste management
– Injection site safety and sterilization
– Practical sessions and live demonstrations
70 staff participated and are now expected to cascade the knowledge to their colleagues.
Mrs. Isatou Samba, Senior IPC Officer and National Trainer, emphasised that “Infection control is everyone’s responsibility. With proper IPC measures, we can protect both patients and healthcare workers.”
Early Signs of Impact
Hospital records show a clear decline in early and late-onset sepsis cases among neonates. In 2023, KGH recorded 435 cases. In 2024, this number dropped to 266. And now in 2025, only 69 cases have been reported between January and May.
“This is a testament to what we can achieve when frontline health workers are equipped with the right knowledge and tools,” said Mr. Basiru Drammeh, CEO of Kanifing General Hospital.
A Call for Continued Support
Horizon Trust Gambia endeavors to continue to support the program if implementation continues to progress successfully. For staff, this training programme is more than a training, it’s a lifeline for patients and a critical step toward transforming care at KGH.
“IPC is the backbone of any hospital. If this unit is not empowered, we can fail as an institution.”