By Sharon Onyango
The County Government of Siaya, through the Department of Health and Sanitation, has partnered with Amref Health Africa to launch the REConnecteD (Risk-Enhanced Community Care After Discharge) Project, an innovative digital health initiative designed to reduce childhood deaths after hospital discharge through enhanced community follow-up and digital tracking systems.
The project was displayed during an inception meeting that brought together members of the County Health Management Team (CHMT) and representatives from Amref Health Africa. It seeks to address post-discharge mortality, a largely overlooked challenge in pediatric healthcare.
Despite improvements in hospital care, many children remain vulnerable after returning home. Health experts note that discharge does not always mean full recovery, especially for children recovering from severe illnesses. Data presented during the meeting showed that a significant number of children discharged from pediatric wards in low- and middle-income countries die within six months, with many deaths occurring at home or while seeking emergency care.
Children recovering from severe malnutrition, severe anemia, and HIV-related illnesses face some of the highest risks. To address this gap, the REConnecteD Project will introduce the Smart Discharges Approach, a proven model that combines digital technology with community-based follow-up. Healthcare workers will use digital risk-assessment tools to identify children requiring closer monitoring after discharge.
Parents and caregivers will receive counseling on danger signs, home care, medication adherence, and when to seek medical attention. The digital platform will then alert Community Health Promoters (CHPs), enabling scheduled phone calls, home visits, and SMS reminders based on each child's risk profile.
According to project ch partners, the approach has already shown positive results in Uganda, where a large-scale study involving more than 13,000 participants recorded a significant reduction in post-discharge deaths.
Siaya is among four counties selected for the initiative alongside Homa Bay, Nakuru, and Nairobi. The project will begin with a 12-month baseline phase to collect data on child readmissions and post-discharge outcomes before moving to full implementation of the intervention.
By strengthening the link between health facilities and community health systems, the initiative is expected to improve recovery outcomes and provide a stronger safety net for vulnerable children and their families.