We handed over Kangaroo Mother Care equipment to 6 health facilities (birthing centres) in Mahottari and Sarlahi District, Madhesh Province. This is part of our Health System Strengthening for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health/Nutrition (HSS/MNCH-N) Project.
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has been found to be essential for premature and low birthweight babies, reducing their mortality and improving their outcomes. KMC involves keeping the infant and mother together immediately after birth with skin-to-skin contact starting in the hospital, then continuing at home with follow-up from healthcare workers. It supports breast-feeding, metabolic processes and growth. The items provided to the health facilities increase the comfort of mothers during their stay in the facility and support them in learning about and practising KMC.
The World Health Organization states, “When started at the soonest possible time, kangaroo mother care can save more lives, improve health outcomes for babies and ensure the constant presence of the mother with her sick baby.” (WHO,2023)
KMC support in health facilities will continue to support health outcomes for infants in the underprivileged and marginalised communities where ADRA is working to improve nutrition and health through health system strengthening and increasing community utilisation of health services. The HSS-MNCH/N Project is supported by ADRA Netherlands and ADRA International.
