New resources released to help more preterm and low birthweight babies benefit from kangaroo mother care (WHO)

WHO News HNN Team

This article was originally published by WHO. Mothers and babies should stay together after birth even when the baby is small or sick Today, WHO released two new resources to support wider uptake of kangaroo mother care (KMC) – a lifesaving technique which includes ongoing skin-to-skin contact and exclusive breastfeeding – to benefit more small … Continued

Born Too Soon -2023 Decade of Action on Preterm Birth Press Release

Born Too Soon HNN Team

This press release was originally published by PMNCH.  152 million babies born preterm in the last decade GENEVA/NEW YORK/CAPE TOWN, 10 May 2023: Of every 10 babies born, 1 is preterm – and every 40 seconds, 1 of those babies dies Preterm birth rates have not changed in the past decade in any region of … Continued

A triple threat of water-related crises is endangering the lives of 190 million children – UNICEF

UNICEF HNN Team

As world leaders prepare to attend the historic UN Water Conference, UNICEF calls for urgent investment in climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services to protect children. This article was originally published by UNICEF.  NEW YORK, 20 March 2023 – 190 million children in 10 African countries are at the highest risk from a convergence of … Continued

A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth: UN agencies

WHO News HNN Team

This news release is from WHO. New data show major setbacks for maternal health in many parts of the world, highlighting stark disparities in healthcare access Every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest estimates released in a report by United Nations agencies today. This report, Trends in maternal mortality, … Continued

A child or youth died once every 4.4 seconds in 2021 – UN report (WHO)

WHO News HNN Team

This news release is taken from WHO. Another 1.9 million babies were tragically stillborn during the same period, according to a separate UN report. NEW YORK/GENEVA/WASHINGTON D.C., 10 January 2023 – An estimated 5 million children died before their fifth birthday and another 2.1 million children and youth aged between 5–24 years lost their lives in 2021, … Continued

WHO advises immediate skin to skin care for survival of small and preterm babies

World Health Organization HNN Team

This news release is taken from WHO. WHO today launched new guidelines to improve survival and health outcomes for babies born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or small (under 2.5kg at birth). The guidelines advise that skin to skin contact with a caregiver – known as kangaroo mother care – should start immediately after birth, without … Continued

Staggering backsliding across women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health revealed in new UN analysis

World Health Organization HNN Team

This article was originally published by the World Health Organization. COVID-19, conflict, climate crises exacerbate setbacks for childhood and adolescent prospects, women’s rights A new UN report shows that women’s and children’s health has suffered globally, as the impacts of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change converge with devastating effects on prospects for children, … Continued

WABA World Breastfeeding Week 2022 Press Release

World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action HNN Team

This press release was developed and published by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. “It takes a village to raise a child. Parents face a multitude of challenges in providing the best care for their child, during the antenatal, labour and delivery, as well as postnatal periods. Ongoing care for the child is also vital … Continued

COVID-19 pandemic fuels largest continued backslide in vaccinations in three decades (WHO, UNICEF)

WHO News HNN Team

This article was published by the World Health Organization. WHO and UNICEF sound the alarm as new data shows global vaccination coverage continued to decline in 2021, with 25 million infants missing out on lifesaving vaccines The largest sustained decline in childhood vaccinations in approximately 30 years has been recorded in official data published today by WHO … Continued

Updated WHO recommendations for malaria chemoprevention among children and pregnant women (WHO)

WHO News HNN Team

This article was published by the World Health Organization. WHO has updated it recommendations for 3 key malaria prevention strategies: seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC – previously known as intermittent preventive treatment in infants, or IPTi) and intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp). When given to the young children and pregnant women who … Continued