We are thrilled to have participated in a major global report that recognizes, for the first time, the essential role of parents as partners in the care of sick and small babies throughout every recommendation. The report, Survive and Thrive: Transforming care for every small and sick newborn, was created by UNICEF and WHO, with support from partners including USAID, Every Preemie Scale, Save the Children, LSHTM, and the Gates Foundation. PTBi co-principal Investigator, Linda Franck, contributed to the landmark technical report and explains,
"This report could impact our ability to double-down on our efforts to reduce disparities in access and quality of care for all babies needing special care at birth to reduce the unacceptable rates of death and disability worldwide. Transforming care for today’s 30 million vulnerable newborns is the smartest investment we can make in our future."
According to the report, the world will not achieve the global target to achieve health for all unless it transforms care for every newborn. Without rapid progress, some countries will not meet this target for another 11 decades. To save newborns, the report recommends:
- Providing round-the-clock inpatient care for newborns seven days a week.
- Training nurses to provide hands-on care working in partnership with families.
- Harnessing the power of parents and families by teaching them how to become expert caregivers and care for their babies, which can reduce stress, help babies gain weight and allow their brains to develop properly.
- Providing good quality of care should be a part of country policies, and a lifelong investment for those who are born small or sick.
- Counting and tracking every small and sick newborn allows managers to monitor progress and improve results.
- Allocating the necessary resources, as an additional investment of US$ 0.20 cents per person can save 2 of every 3 newborns in low- and middle-income countries by 2030.
Almost three decades ago, the Convention on the Rights of the Child guaranteed every newborn the right to the highest standard of health care, and it is time for countries around the world to make sure the legislative, medical, human and financial resources are in place to turn that right into a reality for every child, the report says.
Do you have a story to share about transforming care for small and sick newborns?
Share your story with the Healthy Newborn Network blog series, Telling your story: Transforming care for small and sick newborns, which serves as a platform to share stories of success and challenges in caring for small and sick newborns in low-resource settings. Send a 300-600-word blog about your experience or research to [email protected]
