Preventing Newborn Hypothermia in Afghanistan

We are delighted to post our first report on the project, Preventing Newborn Hypothermia In Afghanistan.  We are grateful to those that have kick-started this project’s fund - thank you! 

In mid-February, Embrace met with the Afghan team in San Francisco, who will be training doctors, midwives, nurses and mothers in Kabul on how to use the warmers.  After the training, the team travelled to Afghanistan where they are currently doing further assessment on a number of hospitals to identify the best site to launch the program.  Our partner (in Aghanistan) is currently meeting with hospital administrators, doctors, and other key-stakeholders to introduce the Embrace program.  Additionally, the warmers have arrived in Kabul for our launch. We are also in the process of hiring a local site manager who will help with program implementation and training.  The site manager and our team will:

• Raise awareness about the devastating impact of hypothermia in premature and low birth-weight babies, among healthcare staff, mothers, families and community members.
• Provide on-going training and support on use of the Embrace infant warmer and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) as critical interventions for neonatal hypothermia.
• Collect monitoring and evaluation data to better understand the program’s impact on maternal and child health outcomes.
• Provide complementary health education focused on addressing the root causes of low birth-weight, neonatal hypothermia and other maternal and child health issues, as relevant to the community.

We are so excited and hope you continue to be a part of our mission of giving all infants an equal chance for a healthy life.

Thank you for helping us spread the warmth!