Maternal and newborn health improves in rural Nigeria, Ethiopia and India but inequities still exist
This article was originally published by EurekAlert referring to the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) Community-based health programs in parts of rural Nigeria, Ethiopia and India were successful in improving health care for mothers and newborns, but inequities still exist, according to a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). “Our findings have both … Continued
India newborn girl found in shallow grave ‘fighting for life’
This story was originally published by BBC News A newborn baby discovered buried alive in a clay pot in northern India is fighting for her life, her doctor says. She remains in a “critical” condition, suffering from septicemia and a dangerously low platelet count, pediatrician Ravi Khanna said. “There are chances of her survival, but … Continued
Uttar Pradesh: Soon, healthcare units where moms will stay with ailing newborns
This article was originally published by the Times of India here. In a paradigm shift in healthcare, ailing newborns will not be separated from their mothers at government hospitals in UP. The first Mother Newborn Care Unit or MNCU is coming up at Badaun district hospital. Till now, a sick baby was kept under intensive … Continued
In Nashik, colour-coded bedsheets are protecting newborns
This article originally appeared in The Indian Express here. By Anuradha Mascarenhas. If it’s Monday, the color code for bedsheets at Nashik civil hospital’s special newborn care unit (SNCU) is yellow, if it’s Tuesday, the sheets are pink, and so on for each day of the week. This simple measure ensures that the bedsheets have … Continued
Breastfeeding: Banking on breast milk
This article was originally published on LiveMint here. On 4 April, Shilpa Bharadwaj was admitted to a government hospital in Sanagneri Gate, Jaipur, as soon as she experienced the first twinge of labour pain. Later that day, she delivered a healthy boy. Twelve hours later, she died of complications. Her family, wracked with grief, had … Continued
AMR: The awful toll of superbugs in India’s hospitals
This article was originally published on SciDev.Net here. By: Ranjit Devraj The vigil for multidrug-resistant bugs is tight at the Holy Family Hospital, a charitable institution in the Indian capital known for its dedication to neonatal care. “We cannot afford to have newborns falling prey to difficult-to-treat bugs,” says Sumbul Warsi, medical director of the … Continued
The Taj Mahal becomes first Indian monument with breastfeeding room
This story was originally published by the Thomson Reuters Foundation here. NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The Taj Mahal, built as a monument to a woman who died in childbirth, is set to get a baby feeding room in a first for India where conservative attitudes toward public breastfeeding mean nursing mothers are often … Continued
Kangaroo Mother Care units in Govt Hospitals give every newborn a chance at life
The launch of 101 Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) lounges took place on 6th March, at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow. In the past year, 69 KMC lounges were successfully established across districts in UP, taking the total tally of KMC lounges to 170. This was done under the leadership of, Prof. Rita Bahuguna Joshi (UP’s Minister … Continued
Newborn Deaths in India Can Be Averted by 2030 with Stronger Health Systems
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
India Readies A New Cadre Of Certified Midwives To Improve Maternal, Infant Care
Karimnagar (Telangana) and Delhi: “As a nurse, we used to refer to mothers as patients. The first thing we learned as a midwife was to treat them as mothers and not patients,” said Jyothirmayee Akkaladevi, 35, as she rattled off a list of everything she had to unlearn to train as a midwife. Akkaladevi is … Continued