The Embrace India Program serves under-resourced health care centers and hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttarakhand. Embrace donates infant warmers for free to low birth weight and premature infants in need. Recognizing that technology alone is not enough to solve complex problems like neonatal hypothermia, local staff also provides intensive health education programs for mothers, families and health care workers.
India has persistently high rates of infant mortality, and accounts for nearly 30% of all newborn deaths worldwide. More than 300,000 babies die within 24 hours of being born in India each year from preventable causes. In under-resourced settings, hypothermia at birth is one of the most important risk factors for newborn infants. Incubators and radiant warmers are often unsuitable for these settings. There is an incredible need for low-cost, scalable solutions for neonatal hypothermia.
Embrace programs offer a unique blend of innovative technology and education. The Embrace infant warmer is an innovative device that costs less than 1% of a state-of-the-art incubator. It works in areas with intermittent electricity and is portable, safe and intuitive to use. The Embrace program model is designed to empower mothers to care for their at-risk infants with methods such as Kangaroo Care. Embrace addresses an enormous need with a solution to manage and prevent neonatal hypothermia.
Over the next year, Embrace will impact the lives of over 136,000 low birth weight and premature infants through an innovative infant warmer device and comprehensive program model.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
