First Maternal Azithromycin Meeting in the Gambia

LSHTM MARCH Centre Gambia HNN Team

This article was originally published on the LSHTM MARCH Centre webpage here. The MAR meeting was organized and chaired by Dr Anna Roca, PregnAnZI-2 Principal Investigator, and included other investigators from the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, the University of Maryland Medical School, University of Alabama, Research Triangle Institute International, the University of Melbourne, … Continued

Israeli gov’t provides support Ghana Health Service in Neonatal care

Ghana News Agency Ghana HNN Team

This article was originally published on Ghana News Agency here. The government of Israel, as part of efforts to deepen relationship with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has inaugurated two neonatal units in two health facilities in the Kumasi Metropolis. The beneficiary hospitals are the Kumasi South and the Suntreso Government Hospitals. Each of the … Continued

Cut off from care in flooded Zimbabwe, pregnant women airlifted to safety

UNFPA Zimbabwe HNN Team

This article was originally published on UNFPA’s website here. HARARE, Zimbabwe – Chioniso Mutenda, 18 years old and nine months pregnant, lies on a bed in Mutambara Mission Hospital’s maternity waiting home. She is tired but relieved. Until recently, her safety and health were not assured. Just weeks ago, she survived Cyclone Idai, one of … Continued

Liberia: Newborn Mortality Rate Up At 1,072 per 100K Lives

Daily Observer (Liberia) Liberia HNN Team

This news article was originally published in Daily Observer (Liberia) here. Liberia ranks the 7th globally, 3rd in Africa for maternal and newborn mortality Liberia’s newborn babies death rate is among the highest in the world, increased from 997/100,000 (997 deaths per 100,000 live births) to 1,072/100,000 (1,072 deaths per 100,000 live births). In order … Continued

Creating a haven for quality primary care in Niger State, Nigeria: The Fuka example

Nigeria Health Watch Nigeria HNN Team

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

Nigeria: Kogi governor initiates free healthcare service for pregnant women

PM News Nigeria Nigeria HNN Team

This article was originally published on PM News Nigeria here. Gov. Yahaya Bello, of Kogi, has initiated free healthcare services for pregnant women as part of efforts to tackle the rising rates of maternal and infant mortality. Bello, at the inaugural ceremony of the service in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area, said that its aim … Continued

This JHU team is developing tools to assess newborn health

Technically Baltimore Bangladesh, Uganda HNN Team

This news item originally appeared in Technically Baltimore here. A team from Johns Hopkins’ Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design (CBID) will be among the finalists presenting prototypes in D.C. as part of an event putting a spotlight on the role of hardware in social innovation. The NeMo Asssessment System, which has been in development … Continued

Rewriting Bungoma’s infant mortality story

Daily Nation (Kenya) Kenya HNN Team

This article by Evans Ongwae originally appeared in Daily Nation (Kenya) here. Through a targeted collaborative newborn support project, Mount Kenya University (MKU) and its partners are rewriting Bungoma County’s infant mortality story. The sad tale of the county losing 32 newborns for every 1,000 live births, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey … Continued

With Help From UNICEF and Partners, Chad Eliminates MNT

UNICEF Chad HNN Team

Wonderful news for newborns and mothers in Chad, and everyone who cares about them: Maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) has been declared eliminated in Chad. On behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Jean-Bosco Ndihokubwayo, WHO Representative in Chad, presented the official certificate of merit to Chad’s Minister of Public Health, Mahamet Aziz Saleh, … 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