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

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

Marketing of breastmilk substitutes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Elsevier HNN Team

This article was originally published by The Lancet By Christoffer van Tulleken, Charlotte Wright, Amy Brown, David McCoy and Anthony Costello It is of concern that the US$70 billion infant formula industry has been actively exploiting concerns about COVID-19 to increase sales, in violation of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (the … Continued

Breast milk could help prevent heart disease caused by premature birth, RCSI study

EurekAlert HNN Team

This article was originally published by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland via EurekAlert Early use of breast milk could play a vital role in preventing heart disease in prematurely born infants, according to a paper led by researchers at RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) and the Rotunda Hospital. The review article, … Continued

Maternal and newborn health improves in rural Nigeria, Ethiopia and India but inequities still exist

Eurekalert Nigeria, Ethiopia, India HNN Team

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

Kenya hopes its first human milk bank will save infants’ lives

Quartz Africa Kenya HNN Team

This article was originally published by Quartz Africa here. By Annabelle Timsit Every morning at Pumwani Maternity Hospital in Nairobi, a group of new mothers files into a spacious room housing Kenya’s first human milk bank. The room, freshly-painted aqua blue and bustling with nurses, is lined on either side with private lactation booths separated … Continued

Reinvigorated Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Helps Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding in Malawi

Health Policy Plus Malawi HNN Team

This article was originally published by Health Policy Plus (HP+) here. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), led by WHO and UNICEF, aims to give newborns the best start in life by promoting exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months. In Malawi, great strides were made after the initiative was first introduced in the country, with … Continued

Breastfeeding: Despite progress, only three African nations expected to meet global goal

Medical Xpress HNN Team

This article was originally published on Medical Xpress here. Only three African countries are expected to meet the global target for exclusive breastfeeding, “an unparalleled source of nutrition for newborns and infants, no matter where they are born,” according to a global health expert. The three nations, Guinea-Bissau, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe, are … Continued

UNICEF urges ‘transformative shift’ in family-friendly work policies to reap ‘huge’ benefits

UN News HNN Team

This article was originally published on UN News here. “There is no other time more critical to children’s lives than their earliest years”, said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, “which is why we need a transformative shift in how businesses and governments invest in policies and practices that not only support healthy brain development, but … Continued

Breastfeeding: Banking on breast milk

livemint India HNN Team

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