Guinea: 500 newborns die every week – Official

Journal du Cameroun Guinea HNN Team

Five hundred newborns die every week in Guinea, mainly because of the lack of qualified midwives in the country’s maternity hospitals, Ben Youssouf Keita, president of the National Assembly’s Health and Sport Commission said on Monday in Conakry.”In the context of neonatology, official statistics have shown that 500 babies die every week in Guinea. That’s … Continued

Giving birth in Guinea: a life or death lottery bereft of midwives and medicine

The Guardian Guinea HNN Team

A baby was born, took one breath, then left the world again. No amount of the midwife pumping his legs up to his ribcage and back, or poking a finger hard and fast at his chest, would bring him back. His 17-year-old mother lay in pain on the delivery table as her son was wrapped … Continued

UNFPA: In disasters, women are the backbone of resilience – Opinion

Guinea, Liberia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, United States of America HNN Team

For women in particular, part of being safe during disasters — natural or otherwise — means ensuring safe birth, safety from unintended pregnancy, and safety from violence.

U.N. seeking $3.1 billion to help children at risk

Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone HNN Team

The largest portion, $903 million, would be targeted to help children with immunizations, safe water, sanitation and education in and around Syria.

UN Ebola chief calls for final funding push to defeat virus in west Africa

Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone HNN Team

UN’s lead Ebola co-ordinator en route to Davos says last third of the $1.5bn pledged to tackle disease needs to be paid in order to end the outbreak.

Medical charity MSF opens Ebola clinic for pregnant women

Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone HNN Team

Women are particularly vulnerable to a disease spread through direct contact with infected people and with the corpses of victims, because women often care for sick family members, said MSF Field Coordinator, Esperanza Santos.

To boost fight against Ebola and strengthen community-based services for the future, UNICEF raises appeal to US$500 million

Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone HNN Team

UNICEF is accelerating its work in the heart of communities to stop the outbreak, support early isolation of cases, promote more safe burials and raise continued awareness and understanding of the virus and its risks.

A New Partnership to Protect Mothers and Newborns in the Midst of the Ebola Outbreak

Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Tanzania, United Republic of, Togo HNN Team

Jhpiego is partnering with the Society of African Gynecologists and Obstetricians (SAGO) to expand and reinforce Ebola preparedness training for frontline health workers across West Africa in the event the virus outbreak spreads further in the region.

Ebola may change how aid is spent on healthcare in Africa

Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone HNN Team

Experts are now debating whether the funding balance needs to be adjusted to concentrate more on building general health systems in poor countries so they can withstand health crises like Ebola.

Ebola effect reverses gains in maternal, child mortality

Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone HNN Team

When Ebola broke out in Sierra Leone in May, and Liberia in August, the number of births attended by a health professional in Liberia dropped from 52 percent to 38 percent.