Countries gather for the Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia
WHY: Pneumonia claimed the lives of 800,000 children under the age of five in 2018, or one child every 39 seconds. That was more than any other disease. Yet pneumonia remains largely forgotten. WHAT: On January 29-31, nine leading health and children’s organisations – ISGlobal, Save the Children, UNICEF, Every Breath Counts, the Bill & … Continued
Surviving birth: Every 11 seconds, a pregnant woman or newborn dies somewhere around the world
This article was originally published by UNICEF here. An estimated 2.8 million pregnant women and newborns die every year, or 1 every 11 seconds, mostly of preventable causes, according to new mortality estimates released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Division, UNFPA and the World Bank Group. For mothers and … Continued
29 million babies born into conflict in 2018
This article was originally published by UNICEF here. More than 29 million babies were born into conflict-affected areas in 2018, UNICEF said today. Armed violence across countries including Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen meant that, throughout last year, more than 1 in 5 babies globally spent their earliest moments in communities affected by … Continued
In Nashik, colour-coded bedsheets are protecting newborns
This article originally appeared in The Indian Express here. By Anuradha Mascarenhas. If it’s Monday, the color code for bedsheets at Nashik civil hospital’s special newborn care unit (SNCU) is yellow, if it’s Tuesday, the sheets are pink, and so on for each day of the week. This simple measure ensures that the bedsheets have … Continued
Reinvigorated Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Helps Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding in Malawi
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
UNICEF urges ‘transformative shift’ in family-friendly work policies to reap ‘huge’ benefits
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
Australian funding means improved maternal and newborn care will benefit 10,800 mothers and their newborn babies in Milne Bay Province, PNG
This article was originally published on UNICEF Australia’s website here. A maternal and newborn care programme launched today in Alotau, Papua New Guinea, will ensure up to 10,800 newborns and their mothers receive a comprehensive package of care to ensure they survive and thrive over the next three years in Milne Bay Province. The programme, … Continued
Vaccines: 2018 immunization coverage estimates
New data from WHO and UNICEF reveals that 20 million children worldwide – more than 1 in 10 – missed out on life-saving vaccines such as measles, diphtheria and tetanus in 2018. Most of these children, over 40 per cent, live in 16 countries that are fragile or affected by conflict. These latest estimates of … Continued
Breastfeeding: Banking on breast milk
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
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