New toolkit aims to improve global birth defects surveillance

This article was originally published by WHO.  Birth defects or congenital anomalies are an invisible tragedy around the world. Every year an estimated 295 000 newborns die due to congenital anomalies during the first 28 days of life. The most common, severe congenital anomalies are heart defects, neural tube defects and Down’s syndrome. Congenital anomalies … Continued

“We used to perceive maternal-perinatal death audits as self-incrimination”

Makerere University Centre of Excellence for Maternal Newborn and Child Uganda HNN Team

As recent as early this year, a mere mention of a maternal or perinatal audit before midwives and nurses in the eastern Uganda district of Kibuku would send shivers down their spine. “We even used to perceive audits as incriminating by reporting ourselves. But from the MPDSR training we now know the importance of conducting … Continued

100,000 newborn lives saved since 2018

UNICEF HNN Team

This article was originally published by UNICEF South Asia is making progress in saving the lives of newborn babies. Since 2018, an additional 100,000 newborn lives have been saved in South Asia. This is because of progress made in expanding access to, quality and utilization of newborn health services. Despite this positive progress, however, the … Continued

Rewriting Bungoma’s infant mortality story

Daily Nation (Kenya) Kenya HNN Team

This article by Evans Ongwae originally appeared in Daily Nation (Kenya) here. Through a targeted collaborative newborn support project, Mount Kenya University (MKU) and its partners are rewriting Bungoma County’s infant mortality story. The sad tale of the county losing 32 newborns for every 1,000 live births, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey … Continued

Newborn Deaths in India Can Be Averted by 2030 with Stronger Health Systems

Tech2 India HNN Team

In December 2018, the Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) was released in India, with efforts and contributions from many stakeholders involved in maternal and child care. The plan brought alarming statistics on newborn care to the forefront. Over 30 million babies are born too soon, too small or become sick every year and need specialized … Continued

Regional Commissioners take oath to end maternal deaths

The Citizen Tanzania, United Republic of HNN Team

Dar es Salaam. Regional commissioners across the country yesterday took an oath as part of the government’s new move to stop deaths related to pregnancy, child-birth and newborns’ ill health. The role of political leaders’ commitment in the control of maternal deaths and improving newborns health has been highlighted by maternal health researchers. The deaths … Continued

Mothers in Cameroon Are Dying at Shocking Rates. The GFF Will Help Change That.

Global Citizen Cameroon HNN Team

Despite investing more than its neighbors in sub-Saharan Africa on per-capita health spending, the country of Cameroon struggles to improve the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health of its people — but that’s about to change. Cameroon ranks 18th among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. In 2015, there … Continued

A Day in the Life of a Community Health Worker

USAID Afghanistan Afghanistan HNN Team

SACRIFICING TO MEET NEEDS Shakila is a volunteer Community Health Worker at a health post in Enjil District, Herat Province. Every day, prior to working a typical 24 hour shift at the health post, she leaves her two-year old son, Mohammad Moshfe, with her mother-in-law. “Everyone is welcome here. Enjil is a poor district. It … Continued

These Women Are Saving Lives, One Pregnancy at a Time

New York Times Sierra Leone, Uganda HNN Team

Regions of sub-Saharan Africa have some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Geographical obstacles, scarce financial resources and the terrors of political insurrection can transform what should be one of the happiest times of a woman’s life into a race for survival. While this issue has been covered extensively from a geopolitical … Continued

Countdown to 2030 launches country and equity profiles

Malawi HNN Team

13 December 2017 ¦ Lilongwe, Malawi – Countdown to 2030 launched its detailed country and equity profiles on women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health for the 81 countries that account for 95% of all maternal deaths and 90% of all child deaths at the PMNCH Board meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi on 13 December. Malawi stands out … Continued