Could adding folic acid to salt curb Ethiopia’s sky-high rate of spinal cord deformities?
This article was originally posted on ScienceMag By Meredith Wadman Tony Magana, chief of neurosurgery at Mekelle University School of Medicine in Ethiopia’s Tigray province, confronts his country’s high prevalence of neural tube defects nearly every day. His team operates on more than 400 babies annually to repair these severe, often lethal birth malformations, in … Continued
Antenatal care in Kenya needs improvement
This article was originally published on The Conversation Maternal and neonatal mortality has remained high in low-resource settings despite progress in recent years. The estimated maternal mortality ratio in Kenya is 342 per 100,000 live births, a startling 18 times the rate in the United States. High quality prenatal care can address these high levels … Continued
Maternal and newborn health improves in rural Nigeria, Ethiopia and India but inequities still exist
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
100 mothers benefit from safe delivery initiative in city slum
This article was originally published by Standard Media (Kenya) here. By Diana Kimanzi Caroline Gatakaa, who recently delivered a baby boy at Lengo Medical Clinic in Mukuru Kayaba slum in Nairobi, is one of the 100 mothers who received maternal care packages donated by Toto Care Box. “I am humbled to be among the women who … Continued
Tanzania: Digital health reduces maternal, infant mortality rates in Geita
This article was originally published by IPP Media (Tanzania) here. By Felister Peter The use of digital health system in Lake Zone’s Geita region is posed to immensely contribute into reduction of neonatal and maternal mortality, thanks to USAID BoreshaAfya project for increased access to health services, information and improved patient connectivity with skilled health … Continued
CSO calls for return of free antenatal service in Gombe
This article was originally published in Nigerian Tribune here. By Ishola Michael A Gombe based Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Network for Maternal and Newborn Child Health Initiative, (NMNCHI), has appealed to the Gombe State Government to revive the free antenatal services in order to promote family health. The call was made by the Chairman of … Continued
Hundreds of heavily pregnant Venezuelan women seek treatment at Save the Children Colombian border clinic
This content was originally published on Save the Children’s website here. BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – hundreds of at-risk heavily pregnant Venezuelan women have sought treatment at Save the Children’s Emergency Health Unit clinic on the Colombia border. Since opening at the start of April, 792 Venezuelan women have travelled to the clinic to receive pre and … Continued
Creating a haven for quality primary care in Niger State, Nigeria: The Fuka example
This article was originally published on Nigeria Health Watch here. On a cold drizzling morning in Fuka village, Munya local government area (LGA), Niger State, three-day-old Oscar has just been bathed and dressed by his grandmother. He looks healthy in his sweater and lies comfortably in his mother’s arms. Twenty-three-year-old Mary, his mother, had just … Continued
One woman and six newborns die every two hours from complications during pregnancy or childbirth in Yemen
This article was originally published on the UNICEF website here. One woman and six newborns die every two hours in Yemen from complications during pregnancy or childbirth, UNICEF said in the first of a series of short snapshots on maternal and newborn health in Yemen. “Bringing life into the world in Yemen can all too … Continued
‘Catastrophic’ healthcare costs put mothers and newborns at risk
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