Improving the Outlook for Babies in Zanzibar

Three times a day, 27-year-old Omari Ali breaks from his job repairing cars in Amani Freshi, a suburb of Zanzibar City, Zanzibar, and heads to the local health center to care for his newborn twin sons. 

Children Five Times More Likely to Die in Countries Hit by Health Worker Crisis, Save the Children Finds

Chad, Somalia

A new index by Save the Children has ranked the best and worst countries for a child to fall sick in — with Chad and Somalia at the bottom and Switzerland and Finland at the top.  The bottom-ranked countries on the new index have extreme health worker shortages.

U.S Newborn Death Rate tied with Qatar

Babies in the United States have a higher risk of dying during their first month of life than do babies born in 40 other countries, according to a new report.

Save the Children urges for expanding LHWs services

Pakistan

Save the Children on Wednesday urged to increase the number of Lady Health Workers (LHWs) to expand maternal and child health services in Pakistan

In South Africa, a neonatal care initiative builds health and saves lives

South Africa

This hospital, despite its humble status, is a beacon of hope in the province. It has seen a 30 per cent reduction in deaths since 2006 and its neonatal unit has reduced the number of exposed infants who test positive for HIV at six weeks of age.

Midwives can cut deaths in childbirth, but there aren’t enough of them

The world needs 350,000 more midwives, says Save the Children, which is calling for more training and education on the importance of their role in saving lives

Recognizing Excellence in Midwifery: Nominate a midwife today!

ICM together with Save the Children would like to identify and reward 2 midwives who have been champions for newborn survival in countries that experience the highest number of newborn deaths. Submit your nominations!

What Makes Community Health Care Work?

As a follow up piece to the column "Villages Without Doctors" published in the New York Times this week, Tina Rosenberg examines why some community health care models are more sustainable than others, and how successful models can be taken to scale.

Pakistan: Short Training for Women Workers Goes Far in Saving Newborns’ Lives

Pakistan

 A new study suggests that lady health workers can make a difference in saving the lives of newborns.

ReliefWeb: 100,000 Pakistani women at risk

Pakistan HNN Team

Tens of thousands of newborn babies and their mums in Pakistan could be in serious danger as the floods continue to cause misery for millions of families. Sumia, 25, gave birth to a baby boy by the side of the road after being forced to evacuate her home in Shlar, Pakistan due to the encroaching floods. They had no time to collect belongings and have no money; they have received no medical care. At least half a million pregnant women have been affected by the floods, with more than 100,000 of them due to give birth in the next few months. Many will be forced to deliver in temporary shelters or tents, with no access to clean water or health care and often