Serving newborns in need
In far-western Nepal, a hospital ushers in a new era of newborn care with the introduction of a dedicated Kangaroo Mother Care unit
Baitadi, Nepal: It wasn’t too long ago that the Baitadi District Hospital – nestled in the hills of far-western Nepal – had to frequently refer prematurely born and low-birthweight babies to the nearby Dadeldhura Hospital for treatment. This was because while Baitadi Hospital did provide maternal and newborn care services, the absence of specific Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) support meant that the facility could not fully serve mothers and their precious, fragile newborns.
“It is a simple thing, but very important,” says nurse Heera Devi Dhami about the KMC technique. “It can save lives.”
Understanding this potential of KMC – a practice where premature or low-birthweight infants are held skin-to-skin against a parent’s chest to improve their chances of survival – the hospital recently embarked on a mission to enhance its capacity to delivery comprehensive care.
This was the result of support from the Government’s clinical mentoring programme and UNICEF, as well as the unwavering determination of healthworkers like Heera.
Following a meeting between various stakeholders, including representatives from UNICEF and the hospital staff, to discuss at length the significance of a dedicated KMC unit, the hospital, under the leadership of Medical Superintendent Dr Dipesh Shrestha, finally made the commitment. Four months later, during which the necessary space and equipment were being readied, the KMC unit was proudly unveiled.
Complete with specialized KMC recliners and other needed supplies, the little corner was now ready for parents to cradle their children back to health in their loving arms.
There was also a recognized need to empower health staff in using the new facilities to best serve children and families.For this, a team of 15 nursing staff members – including nine skilled birth attendants – received coaching and mentoring sessions, thanks to the support of the Government, the District Health Office, and technical assistance from UNICEF.
Their training encompassed crucial skills like assisting in normal deliveries, vacuum deliveries, handling emergencies such as postpartum hemorrhage, and KMC.
Heera, who was among the staff members who took part in these capacity building sessions, says that such trainings are essential at regular intervals to ensure that both long-term and freshly recruited healthworkers can learn new skills as well as revise their existing knowledge and skills.
“There might be more efficient and effective ways of doing things – it’s always good to stay updated,” she says.
Since the establishment of the KMC corner just a few months ago, it has already come to the aid of several parents, guided by nursing staff on using KMC techniques with their low birthweight babies. The staff observe closely to make sure the practice is being carried out correctly, and encourage the parents – both mothers and fathers – to continue even when they have been discharged.
“We’re very satisfied in being able to contribute to strengthening KMC services in this part of the country, and saving the lives of newborns in need.”
