Africa and much of the developing world could significantly reduce the deaths of critically ill newborns and preterm babies by adopting simple but highly effective methods, rather than lamenting the lack of costly solutions. In Tanzania alone, such deaths could be reduced from the current rate of 24 per 1,000 live births to just 12 or fewer within the next six years, if medical teams embrace enthusiasm and employ simple, proven methods for saving babies born with life-threatening conditions. “At the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC) alone, these skills a n d l ow – c o s t equipment have saved the lives of 2,500 babies recently,” said Dr Stephen Swanson from the Institute of Child Healthcare Africa (ICHA), an American nonprofit that recently opened a branch in Arusha. He told ‘The Arusha News’ that around 250 medical personnel from 23 countries, including 18 from Africa, attended a weeklong conference and workshops in Arusha to share appropriate knowledge and skills as alternatives to expensive equipment, which is often unavailable. Premature babies, for instance, require consistent temperature regulation to help their organs mature. Managing these conditions could cost as little as TSh 250,000 (about $100), instead of relying on machines that can cost up to TSh 50 million (around $20,000) each, Dr Swanson explained. The Assistant Director for Newborn, Child and Adolescent in the Tanzania Ministry of Health, Dr Felix Bundala, noted that the government has increased the number of newborn care wards in government hospitals from 14 in 2018 to 250 as of June 2024, with plans to build more. However, Dr Swanson added that many medical conditions affecting newborns could be significantly reduced if mothers maintained a nutritious diet and attended antenatal clinics, where early warning signs could be detected and managed. The birth of a child is typically a moment of immense joy for couples and families. However, to see that newfound happiness “slip away due to preventable issues is painful beyond words,” shared Ms Samira Ali Abdallah, a mother of two whose husband is a traditional medicine practitioner. In many parts of Africa, people often turn to traditional healers when hospital services are not accessible.
