“We used to perceive maternal-perinatal death audits as self-incrimination”
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
Newborn care units at Health Centre IV: the MANeSCALE experience
From explaining how to mix drugs in the right doses for premature babies to explaining how a radiant warmer works, Nursing Officer Sarah Mirembe clearly knows what she is doing given the confidence she exudes. It is apparent from her talk that she has no problem with dump dusting and mopping her workstation in order … Continued
Newborn baby deaths in Africa targeted in $68M initiative
This story was originally published by EurekAlert citing Rice University. Hundreds of thousands of babies could be saved through a major global health initiative launched here today to improve newborn hospital care throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Almost half of childhood deaths occur in the first four weeks of life, and newborns in sub-Saharan Africa are nearly … Continued
Uganda leading groundbreaking research for newborn deaths in hospitals
This article was originally published in The Independent (Uganda) here. Researchers in Uganda are conducting a trial to determine the mortality benefits and cost-effectiveness of kangaroo mother care (KMC) among ill infants weighing 2000 grams or less. KMC is a method of care of preterm infants that involves skin-to-skin contact with the mother or another … Continued
This JHU team is developing tools to assess newborn health
This news item originally appeared in Technically Baltimore here. A team from Johns Hopkins’ Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design (CBID) will be among the finalists presenting prototypes in D.C. as part of an event putting a spotlight on the role of hardware in social innovation. The NeMo Asssessment System, which has been in development … Continued
Preterm birth study completes emergency obstetrics training at six Ugandan hospitals
An expectant mother is ushered into the maternity ward. Noticeably, she is in pain. She is quickly reviewed by a midwife. Although her gestation is 37 weeks, she is told she is in the second stage of labour and should be delivering shortly. She is a preterm labour case and is being treated as an … Continued
‘Miracle’ six-day-old baby survives Ebola
A baby girl who was diagnosed with Ebola when she was only six days old has survived, health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have confirmed. Baby Benedicte’s mother was infected with Ebola and died during childbirth. Benedicte showed symptoms only days later and it has taken five weeks of round-the-clock treatment to … Continued
These Women Are Saving Lives, One Pregnancy at a Time
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
In Sembabule, getting maternal health services is a nightmare
SEMBABULE. It is noon at Ntuusi Health Centre IV in Sembabule District. The centre serves close to 60,000 people from Ntuusi Rural, Kyeera, Ntuusi Town Council, Nabitanga and Lwemiyaga sub-counties that make up Lwemiyaga County. Patients, caregivers and other guests are moving in and out of the centre. Inside the health unit, nurses and midwives … Continued
Health workers saving preterms with simple interventions
A 0.6kg newborn lies peacefully in an incubator at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. After a routine check from the midwife on duty, all seems well. “It is in good state. I am certain we are going to save this one too,” says the midwife, with fulfilment written on her face. Preterm birth complications according to … Continued