China Promotes Midwifery for Women and Newborns

China HNN Team

China should build an independent midwife profession by separating the service from nursing, experts said on November 4 in a workshop in Beijing.

Preterm Birth, Pneumonia Leading Causes of Death for Children Under 5

Nigeria, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Pakistan HNN Team

“Millions of children are still dying of preventable causes at a time when we have the means to deliver cost-effective interventions,” the study authors wrote.

Powerful synergies across different sectors improve health of poor women and children

Ethiopia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Peru, Rwanda, Vietnam HNN Team

“These studies revealed that improving people’s health and strengthening health systems required investing in health-enhancing sectors such as education, water and sanitation, social protection, and infrastructure development.”

Almost half of child deaths occur in first month of life, UN estimates

Ethiopia, Nigeria, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Liberia, Niger, Pakistan, Rwanda HNN Team

Most are from preventable causes such as diseases like pneumonia, malnutrition and complications in labour, but new research highlights success in Rwanda.

SickKids contributes to first International Standards to assess fetal growth and newborn size worldwide

Brazil, China, India, Kenya, United States of America HNN Team

The international standards – one for the growing fetus and the other for newborns – provide doctors and midwives with clinical tools that can be incorporated immediately into practice during pregnancy and at birth.

Say ‘no’ to formula in quake-hit areas

China

The deadly earthquake that hit Ludian, Yunnan province, two weeks ago has affected the lives of more than 1 million people, over 250,000 of whom are children.

Born equal: Babies born to healthy mothers worldwide grow similarly in the womb and are of strikingly similar size at birth

Brazil, China, India, Kenya, United States of America HNN Team

Poor nutrition and health, not race or ethnicity, cause most of the current wide disparities in fetal growth and newborn size

Nepal, Bangladesh beat India in mother and child care

Ethiopia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, India, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Peru, Rwanda, Vietnam

Ten countries, including Nepal and Bangladesh in South Asia, have dramatically reduced mother and child deaths within two decades despite social and political challenges.

World leaders take important step to prevent 3 million newborn deaths

Nigeria, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Malawi, Pakistan, Rwanda HNN Team

“Progress requires working with other government officials, not to mention the private sector, civil society, religious organizations, and community leaders.”

Every Newborn in Focus at Ministerial Breakfast

Nepal, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Rwanda, Zambia HNN Team

An informal breakfast meeting organized by PMNCH, brought together a dozen ministers of health and representatives from the Gates Foundation led by Melinda Gates, to discuss maternal and newborn health with a specific focus on the Every Newborn Action Plan.