Maternal and newborn health improves in rural Nigeria, Ethiopia and India but inequities still exist

Eurekalert Nigeria, Ethiopia, India HNN Team

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

India newborn girl found in shallow grave ‘fighting for life’

BBC News India HNN Team

This story was originally published by BBC News A newborn baby discovered buried alive in a clay pot in northern India is fighting for her life, her doctor says. She remains in a “critical” condition, suffering from septicemia and a dangerously low platelet count, pediatrician Ravi Khanna said. “There are chances of her survival, but … Continued

Newborn baby deaths in Africa targeted in $68M initiative

Eurekalert Kenya, Tanzania, United Republic of, Malawi, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda HNN Team

This story was originally published by EurekAlert citing Rice University. Hundreds of thousands of babies could be saved through a major global health initiative launched here today to improve newborn hospital care throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Almost half of childhood deaths occur in the first four weeks of life, and newborns in sub-Saharan Africa are nearly … Continued

Mothers survive Ebola while pregnant against the odds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

WHO Democratic Republic of the Congo HNN Team

This article was originally published by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa here. “I put my feet on the ground and wiggled my toes. It felt strange to touch the ground for the first time in weeks. Slowly, I stood up, holding the hand of the nurse. I held my swollen belly and … Continued

Uttar Pradesh: Soon, healthcare units where moms will stay with ailing newborns

Times of India India HNN Team

This article was originally published by the Times of India here. In a paradigm shift in healthcare, ailing newborns will not be separated from their mothers at government hospitals in UP. The first Mother Newborn Care Unit or MNCU is coming up at Badaun district hospital. Till now, a sick baby was kept under intensive … Continued

Why Kenyan women and their babies are still dying at childbirth

Daily Nation (Kenya) Kenya HNN Team

This article was originally published by Daily Nation (Kenya) here. By Dorothy Otieno Medical care for new mothers and their babies is in a sorry state, with doctors, nurses and clinical officers routinely ignoring clinical guidelines and lacking skills to treat and manage complications, reveals a NationNewsplex investigation. Lack of essential drugs and limited access … Continued

WHO support to paediatric and neonatal semi-intensive care units in Raparin Paediatric Hospital in Erbil

World Health Organization (WHO) Iraq HNN Team

This article was originally published by WHO here. The World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the Ministry of Health in Kurdistan Region of Iraq, today celebrated the opening of the paediatric intensive care and neonatal gastroenterology and semi-intensive care unit in Raparin Pediatric Hospital in Erbil. The paediatric intensive and semi-intensive care units, with … Continued

WHO welcomes landmark UN declaration on universal health coverage

World Health Organization (WHO) HNN Team

This article was originally published by WHO here. Today world leaders adopted a high-level United Nations Political Declaration on universal health coverage (UHC), the most comprehensive set of health commitments ever adopted at this level. “This declaration represents a landmark for global health and development,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at WHO. “The world … Continued

Malawi study confirms lasting impact of life-saving technology

Rice University Malawi HNN Team

This article was originally published by Rice University here. By Jade Boyd Malawi’s national adoption of affordable, rugged, neonatal CPAP technology as a part of routine hospital care resulted in sustained improvements in the survival of babies with respiratory illness, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics. Malawi, in southeast Africa, has the … Continued

More women and children survive today than ever before

HNN Team

This article was originally published by UNICEF here. More women and their children are surviving today than ever before, according to new child and maternal mortality estimates released today by United Nations groups led by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 2000, child deaths have reduced by nearly half and maternal deaths by … Continued