Safe Surgery and Anesthesia (SaSA)
Building the surgical workforce and infrastructure for safer deliveries in underserved counties
Overview
The Safe Surgery and Anesthesia (SaSA) initiative, led by CPHD, addresses Kenya’s maternal and newborn health challenges by strengthening surgical and anesthesia capacity in underserved and remote counties. Through strategic partnerships, SaSA tackled three major gaps:
• Shortage of trained anesthesia providers
• Inadequate surgical infrastructure
• Lack of team-based emergency training.
The Problem
In Kenya, too many women and newborns face preventable complications—or even death, because surgical care is delayed or unsafe. The challenges are systemic: in 2015, there were fewer than 60 nurse anesthetists nationwide. Today, 95% of counties still fall far below the recommended number of anesthesia providers. Many health facilities lack reliable electricity, making it nearly impossible to deliver safe anesthesia or power essential equipment. And while emergencies demand teamwork, most healthcare workers are trained in isolation, without opportunities to practice life-saving responses together.
What we did
In Turkana County, CPHD turned two dormant operating theatres in Katilu and Longiyani into fully functional surgical spaces by installing solar power, equipping them with off-grid-compatible tools, and training medical officers in life-saving obstetric procedures like C-sections. With reliable energy, safe surgery is now possible, even in the most remote settings.
But equipment alone isn’t enough.
To fill a critical gap in Kenya’s surgical workforce, CPHD co-created the country’s first public Kenya Registered Nurse Anesthetist (KRNA) program with the Kenya Medical Training College. We supported the rollout of a new national curriculum, helped define the scope of practice for nurse anesthetists, and offered scholarships to 89 nurses from underserved counties, bringing care closer to those who need it most.
We also changed how health workers prepare for emergencies. At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, we launched Kenya’s first public high-fidelity simulation lab. Over 300 providers have been trained to manage real-life obstetric crises together, as a team. From postpartum hemorrhage to neonatal CPR, they’re now ready to act when every second counts.
Our impact
1000+
Health workers trained in emergency response
1000+
Health workers trained in emergency response
85%
Trainees from underserved counties
76%
Graduates working in government facilities
Why This Matters
Improving maternal and surgical outcomes requires more than equipment, it requires qualified teams, resilient infrastructure, and supportive policy. SaSA demonstrates that when local providers are trained, equipped, and supported, health systems can deliver safe surgery even in the most remote areas.
This project exemplifies CPHD’s commitment to country-led solutions that integrate workforce development, infrastructure improvement, and policy reform, building systems that not only function, but last.