New global targets to prevent maternal deaths (WHO)

WHO News HNN Team

This article was originally published by the World Health Organization.  Access to a ‘continuum of care’ needed, before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth. Today the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNFPA launched five critical targets to help countries get back on track in reducing preventable maternal deaths, and for tracking progress against the Sustainable … Continued

Kazol Rani Paul – A Midwife Dedicated to Ensuring Quality Maternal and Newborn Care Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic   

Bangladesh HNN Team

Right now, Bangladesh, like other countries, is battling its fight against COVID-19. The entire health system is heavily occupied in meeting the rising demands of health services for COVID-19 patients and continuing their emergency medical services. There is a decline in the demand of seeking healthcare services from general patients fearing contraction of the virus. … Continued

Labor of love: Gill native describes spending the holiday season as a midwife in South Sudan

Daily Hampshire Gazette South Sudan HNN Team

This article was originally published by the Daily Hampshire Gazette By Maureen O’Reilly On Christmas Day last month, Elizabeth “Liza” Ramlow, of Gill, awoke eight hours ahead of her family in western Massachusetts. It wasn’t because she’s an earlier riser. Instead, eight time zones, the Atlantic Ocean and about half the continent of Africa separated … Continued

Midwives are a Key Part of any Health Workforce Dream Team

New Security Beat HNN Team

This article was originally published by the New Security Beat “Midwifery is a fix, it is not an add-on,” said Franka Cadée, President of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25. The World Health Organization designated 2020 the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in recognition of the invaluable … Continued

Train more midwives to save lives

The National Papua New Guinea HNN Team

This story was originally published by The National Disturbing figures were released in March this year that Papua New Guinea has the lowest number of skilled birth attendants and needs 6,000 more to meet global standard. The 2019 Maternal and Newborn Health Task Force report says high maternal and newborn mortality in the country is … Continued

No training, no gloves: Zimbabwe’s desperate childbirths

AP Zimbabwe HNN Team

This article was originally published by AP By Farao Mutsaka When her contractions became unbearably painful, 18-year-old Perseverance Kanyoza rushed to a maternity hospital in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. But the doors were closed amid a weekslong strike by public health workers. With no money for private care, panic set in. A hospital guard directed her … Continued

Newborn care units at Health Centre IV: the MANeSCALE experience

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

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

Charity by name and nature: Malawi’s extraordinary midwife

Al-Jazeera Malawi HNN Team

This article was originally published in Al-Jazeera here. By Rabson Kondowe It is a busy mid-morning at Achikondi Women’s Clinic in Area 23, a township in Malawi‘s capital city Lilongwe, and Glory Honde is holding her healthy baby girl in a blanket. She gave birth here three months ago and is back to have her daughter weighed. … Continued

‘Catastrophic’ healthcare costs put mothers and newborns at risk

UN News HNN Team

This article was originally featured in the UN News here. In a new report highlighting how few of the world’s poorest pregnant women have a doctor, nurse or midwife at their side when they need them most, the UN Children’s Fund said that more than 800 women die every day from complications, while many more … Continued

In South Sudan, Midwives Bring Down Deaths Despite the Odds

Associated Press South Sudan HNN Team

JUBA, South Sudan — Seated in a stifling hallway in South Sudan’s main hospital, the midwife recounted the day she watched a young mother bleed to death after giving birth. “She died while holding my hand,” said Aber Evaline, hanging her head. Her patient was one of more than 40 women who died in Juba’s … Continued