Trained Ward Assistants were shown to effectively support nurses by taking on non-clinical responsibilities such as cleaning, supply management, weighing babies, and helping mothers with hygiene and breastfeeding. These contributions reduced nurse workload, strengthened infection prevention, and created a more supportive family environment.
Equally significant were insights into mothers’ experiences in newborn units (NBUs), which were shaped by peer support, staff engagement, and the design of the care environment. Thoughtful NBU layouts that provide privacy and rest areas significantly enhanced mothers’ ability to care for their babies, improving their overall experience. Staffing data from eight hospitals revealed that nurses only have about 30 minutes per baby, with 32% of care missed and 36% provided by non-nurses, highlighting the urgency of better workforce planning.
The project held Science Café discussions, during which participants emphasized several recommendations, such as standardizing job descriptions, entry qualifications, and training curricula for Ward Assistants, ideally developed with input from clinical teams. The discussions also highlighted the importance of defining supervision structures and creating career progression opportunities for Ward Assistants as part of broader health workforce planning.
On improving experiences for mothers and nurses, participants proposed integrating feedback from parents into quality improvement efforts, prioritizing emotional and peer support systems within NBUs, and improving unit design to allow for greater privacy, comfort, and engagement. Staff well-being was also discussed, with recommendations to provide psychosocial support, rest areas, opportunities for debriefing, and continuous communication training for all facility staff. The recommendations highlighted the importance of tools like Nakuru’s workload indicator to guide appropriate staffing levels, underscoring it as a model for other regions.
The Ministry of Health shared updates on developing national norms and standards for NBU layouts and nurse staffing ratios, noting that these are in the final stages of approval. There was also a strong recommendation to ensure private sector hospitals are included in planning and dissemination, as they play a significant role in service delivery. Finally, a cross-cutting message from the forum emphasized that expanding the number of facilities should be matched with realistic planning around staffing and sustainability, ensuring that infrastructure growth does not outpace the system’s ability to deliver quality care.