]]>
Now the leading cause of death of children under 5, prematurity is an urgent public health issue. Every year, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm, amounting to more than 1 in 10 of all births globally. An even higher number - over 20 million babies - have a low birthweight. Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a proven, effective technique for saving the lives of these babies and improving their development and well-being.
On 16th May, 2023, 8:30 CST WHO will published two important new policy and programmatic resources on KMC - a global position paper and implementation strategy for health policy makers and programme managers - following the release of landmark new guidelines for the care of preterm or low birthweight infants in 2022. These guidelines recommended KMC as the essential standard of care - starting immediately after birth - for all babies born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or small (under 2.5 kg at birth).
Developed in collaboration with a multi-country, multi-stakeholder working group comprising country programme managers, bilateral agencies, donor organizations, professional associations and non-governmental organizations, parents’ groups, specialized partnerships like PMNCH, and international experts and scientists, these resources are directed to programme partners, policy makers and the broader public health community.
We invite you to watch the webinar (will link here when it is available) to learn about these resources and hear from key stakeholders in newborn health about their plans to support implementation and scale up of KMC for all preterm or low birthweight babies.
]]>United States |
United Kingdom |
Canada |
India |
Saudi Arabia |
Australia |
Brazil |
Germany |
Ireland |
Netherlands |
Israel |
Italy |
United Arab Emirates |
France |
Belgium |
China |
South Africa |
Spain |
Philippines |
New Zealand |
Portugal |
Japan |
Pakistan |
Indonesia |
Sweden |
Serbia |
Finland |
South Korea |
Singapore |
Poland |
Malaysia |
Norway |
Switzerland |
Russia |
Austria |
Zambia |
Taiwan |
Romania |
Argentina |
Turkey |
Mexico |
Bangladesh |
Lebanon |
Kenya |
Vietnam |
Ghana |
Hungary |
Hong Kong |
Colombia |
Puerto Rico |
Qatar |
Bulgaria |
Greece |
Bhutan |
Uruguay |
Madagascar |
Macedonia |
Egypt |
Czechia |
Uganda |
Peru |
Cyprus |
Ukraine |
Denmark |
Nigeria |
Chile |
Slovenia |
Gambia |
Thailand |
Algeria |
Croatia |
Guatemala |
Nepal |
Iraq |
Tanzania |
Oman |
Burundi |
Republic of Lithuania |
Slovakia |
Republic of Moldova |
Luxembourg |
Bahrain |
Estonia |
Myanmar |
Maldives |
Cameroon |
Kuwait |
Panama |
Latvia |
Mongolia |
Réunion |
Costa Rica |
Iceland |
Morocco |
Sri Lanka |
Armenia |
Mauritius |
Namibia |
Paraguay |
Trinidad and Tobago |
Dominican Republic |
Ecuador |
Laos |
Malawi |
North Macedonia |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan |
Ivory Coast |
Rwanda |
Palestine |
Papua New Guinea |
Albania |
Bahamas |
Belarus |
Ethiopia |
Georgia |
Afghanistan |
Cambodia |
Jamaica |
Kazakhstan |
Lesotho |
Libya |
Belize |
Botswana |
Congo Republic |
Guernsey |
Jordan |
Malta |
Sierra Leone |
Zimbabwe |
Bolivia |
Cabo Verde |
Jersey |
Liberia |
Montenegro |
Mozambique |
Nicaragua |
Seychelles |
Sudan |
Syria |
Uzbekistan |
Angola |
Barbados |
Bermuda |
Burkina Faso |
Cayman Islands |
Curaçao |
El Salvador |
French Polynesia |
Gibraltar |
Guadeloupe |
Guyana |
Haiti |
Honduras |
Isle of Man |
Kyrgyzstan |
Lithuania |
Martinique |
Niger |
Northern Mariana Islands |
Palau |
São Tomé and Príncipe |
Solomon Islands |
Somalia |
South Sudan |
Suriname |
Tunisia |
U.S. Virgin Islands |
Venezuela |
Nov 17, 2022 01:00 PM (Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna)
]]>Register to participate here: https://lnkd.in/eZ9uyVpY
Every two years the KC professionals get together for a scientific conference and workshop in a different place. The latest one was in 2018 in Colombia (where KMC started) and it was phenomenal. We had the opportunity to tour the KMC centers in Bogotá.
This year is in Madrid, Spain, and we highly recommend this event.
We have found that it is a great opportunity to learn about (or present) the latest research about Kangaroo Mother Care and to network with like-minded professionals and parents so together we advance KMC globally.
We are presenting two posters, one about risk management of kangaroo care, and the other about Kangaroo Care Day (May 15th) and The Zaky app for kangaroo care.
***************************
NOTE: The Kangaroo Mother Care Workshop and Conference is not affiliated with the Kangaroo Care Awareness Day (May 15th).
]]>We asked clinicians around the world in May 2022, and this are some of their responses -
Share with us if you are celebrating Kangaroo Care Day this year - click here
Name of the organization or group |
NICU NZ |
Advocate Children's Hospital, Park Ridge |
Lee Health |
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center |
Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center |
UVA Health |
Sanford Children’s Hospital |
Alta Bates Medical Center |
Naval Hospital |
Dartmouth Children's |
Ccdhb |
Mount Carmel East hospital |
Abington Jefferson Health |
UnityPoint- St. Luke's Hospital |
hackensack Meridian Health Children's Hospital |
Baptist Hospital |
Hca Florida Brandon |
Covenant Healthcare |
Advent Health |
Emory Decatur Hospital |
Lovelace Women’s hospital |
Natividad |
Methodist Dallas Medical Center |
Saint Luke’s NICU/March of Dimes |
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center |
Del Sol Medical Center |
Canterbury District Health Board |
Unity Point Health-Meriter |
Betsi Cadwaladr university health board NHS wales |
Vestre VIken HF, Drammen Hospital, NICU |
Brenner Children’s Hospital |
National maternity hospital Dublin |
Childrens Wisconsin |
Silver Cross |
NICU Aneurin Bevan University Health Board |
UTMCK - Knoxville, TN |
Shaare Zedek Medical Center |
Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital |
SLUHN |
Methodist Women's Hospital |
Shea Educational Group, Inc. |
Advocate Children's Hospital |
Aurora Bay Care Medical Center |
Health Sciences Centre |
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center |
Advent Health for Children |
WRMC |
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital |
HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood |
Children’s Hospital at Providence |
HSC NICU |
Children's Hospital of New Orleans |
ShorePoint Health |
Premier Health |
Portneuf Medical Center |
NICU of University Hospital |
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS |
Lovelace Women's Hospital |
NICU @ Children’s Hospital of Georgia |
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS |
Santa Maria Hostel |
Community Hospital |
Community Hospital |
Advocate Aurora Children's Hospital Oak Lawn campus |
The Community Hospital |
Children’s Hospital of San Antonio |
Wolfson Children's Hospital NICU |
NHS GG & C |
MCH dammam |
NUH |
Wolfson children's hospital |
University hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire nhs |
Ebb and Flow Lactation Services |
March of Dimes |
Imperial College NHS Trust |
Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS |
Hospital Maternidade |
Loma linda university children’s hospital |
Nationwide Childrens |
Share with us if you are celebrating Kangaroo Care Day this year - click here
]]>We asked clinicians around the world in May 2022, and this are some of their responses -
Share with us what you are doing to celebrate Kangaroo Care Day this year - click here
Country |
How are you celebrating Kangaroo Care Day (May 15)? Please specify if we can share this info in the www.kangaroo.care website and how to write your name/organization. |
New Zealand |
we will be encouraging all parents to have long K-ray cuddles this day and everyday |
USA |
We are having a kangaroo-a-thon which will end on that day. We will have a raffle with a gift basket giveaway on the 15th. |
USA |
We will celebrate our team who make skin to skin care and Kangaroo Care possible each and every day! |
USA |
We are holding a Kangaroo-A-Thon for all parents with a baby in our NICU. |
USA |
With lots of stuff |
USA |
Staff that assist with initiating KC place name in raffle. Standing and sitting transfer lab/workshop for staff training. |
USA |
we hope to celebrate our first ever Kangaroo Day with every baby able to be held skin-to-skin doing so in the same day! |
USA |
Not sure yet! Looking for inspiration |
Usa |
By letting patents know how important skin to skin is |
USA |
Wrapping up a 1 week celebration (hopefully - perhaps don't share since I'm not 100% positive we'll be doing this) |
New Zealand |
Kia ora -It’s our first timer ever doing kangaroo-a-thin. So we have decided that we are going to tally the cuddles the whole month to see how many we get. Each parent gets a weekly cuddle care to record their cuddles. Then weekly we tally the whole units….. katahi the end of May we see as a unit how many we have done! |
USA |
We are doing a kangaroo-a-thon!! |
USA |
We are having a Kangaroo-a- thon in our NICU, Education for staff and parents, raffles send gift baskets for both staff and families, pictures with families participating in Kangaroo care, and a surprise guest- a Kangaroo for staff/ families to take pics with throughout the week. Fun facts about Kangaroo Care to be announced during safety briefings that week! |
USA |
This year we are celebrating Kangaroo Care Day by hosting a Kangaroo-A-Thon from May 1-15. We are hoping to reach our unit goal of 150 hours of skin to skin time. We are doing a friendly competition with 2 other local hospitals to see who can get the most hours. We are also celebrating by making scrapbook pages for each of the families with pictures of them skin to skin, decorating kangaroo sugar cookies, giveaways, treat bags for parents while kangarooing, and lots of decorations on the unit. |
USA |
May 16-29 hosting 2 skins skin classes and kangaroo-a-thon |
USA |
Our unit has decorated communication boards located at our units entrance. We have displayed the QRS link for The Zaky app, benefits information in both English and Spanish. We have our count down to Kangaroo Care Day displayed where the parents enter and scrub in so it is easy to see and keep track of. We have purchased out Hershey kiss stickers and are communicating this special day with the parents as we round within the unit. A. Diaz, RN Baptist Hospital |
USA |
We are planning a party, raffle and lots of decorations with education. I am not sure about being able to share this info on your website. I am sure there is someone at work that I must speak with first. |
USA |
In the Covenant Healthcare Neonatal Unit we celebrate all month long with Kangaroo-a-thon with drawings for families who participate. We crown a prince and princess by calculating the frequency of skin to skin sessions. Provide educational information to families and staff members. Treats are provided and word puzzles are given for fun. |
USA |
We are hosting a kangaroo-a-thon in our NICU hosted by our developmental team. Would prefer to stay anonymous, thank you! |
USA |
We plan to kick off a week long friendly “competition” to get all our Moms providing as much Kangaroo Care as they can during the week, and ideally continue throughout their babies’ stay. |
USA |
We will be having a kangaroo-a-thin on my unit, so a big part of my job during this time (and always!) is to facilitate skin-to-skin transfers with parents. It’s amazing to see their confidence increase when kangarooing, even with our smallest and most fragile of babies. |
USA |
We are celebrating starting May 9-15. Games, gifts, articles, videos, pictures and more |
USA |
Kangaroo Care incentives for staff who encourage/facilitate skin to skin interactions throughout the month of May. |
USA |
We are hosting a week-long Kangaroo-A-Thon to promote kangaroo care. |
USA |
We will run a kangaroo-a-thon with incentive prizes throughout first 2 weeks in May |
US |
Organizing vendors and sponsors to provide goodies to parents, taking photos of infants with kangaroo care onesies and framing them for parents’ memories, friendly staff and parent competitions. |
New Zealand |
The Omicron pandemic is quite active in Christchurch at the moment, So not quite sure. Thinking creatively |
USA |
We are celebrating Kangaroo Care Day this year by stocking our unit with Zaky Wraps for Kangaroo Care! Going forward, all families will have the opportunity to use a wrap during skin to skin. Yes you can include on the website with UPH-Meriter name. |
UK |
We will be holding a kangaroo-a-thon on the unit and raising awareness of the importance of skin to skin |
Norway |
We are celebrating the Kangaroo Care Day with cake and balloons for families in our NICU. We will have a gathering where all the parents are invited to participate. The event will consist of a theoretical lecture about the benefits of skin-to-skin contact and why it is important to carry the preterm infant in a kangaroo shawl. |
USA |
We started in April doing a high-fidelity simulation with nursing staff and respiratory therapists. May 1st we will begin our Kangaroo-a-thon with participation gifts given though out the two weeks and prizes for families and staff given on May 15th. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Brenner Children’s Hospital |
Ireland |
Information campaign coffee morning gifts to parents and staff |
USA |
Kangaroo-a-thon |
USA |
I would like to help caregivers and babies do kangaroo care on this day for as long as they want! I will do kangaroo care with my own son on this day. I will promote its benefits to all I encounter throughout the month of May. |
UK |
We are planning to celebrate by aiming for every baby on the unit to have kangaroo care care on that day. We will ask parental permission for photographs |
USA |
We do a Kangaroo-a-thon every year -- moms and nurses have the chance to win a donated gift basket of goodies and baby care items. Every mom that can kangaroo puts their baby's name on a cut out kangaroo & we decorate our front desk with them. We keep up with the minutes and announce who kangaroo'd the most minutes in May! |
Israel |
I coordinate a national forum in Israel of Nurse Lactation Consultants from NICUs around the country.Since 2018 we have been organizing Kangaroo-a-thons in all our NICUs to celebrate Kangaroo Care day. In 2018/9 we participated in the international Kangaroo-a-thon organized by Luisa King from Toronto.Since Covid we have organized National Kagaroo-a-thons each year.Last year 13 NICUs participated. You may publicize this. |
USA |
We are getting baby onesies for all babies with our KC logo on onesies. Extra education for parents & staff. Maybe more for families if we get additional funding. Cupcakes for nurses and recognition & hospital incentive points when they are "caught by colleague" helping family KC. |
Usa |
Gifts for families with a message about importance of skin to skin care - kangaroo charm for their journey jewels necklace, card about kangaroos, cuddle cover (breast feeding cover) to use during S2S. |
USA |
We are hosting a Kangaroo-a-thon from Mother's Day to Father's Day where we encourage and reward skin to skin care every single day with little tokens of appreciation for the parents completing skin to skin with their babies. Amanda Lovercheck, Methodist Women's Hospital Omaha, NE |
USA |
I consult with therapists in NICU and will continue to do so for May 15. |
USA |
In our NICU for the past 10+ years we have had a huge Kangaroo Care-a-thon. Parents log KC time and are entered into raffle drawings. We have an adult size Kangaroo costume and walk about the NICU interacting with families. Staff can purchase t-shirts promoting KC care and are allowed to wear as part of our uniforms for this week. The week is a huge success, luncheons are held for the families and staff. This competition of KC hours extends thru the NICUs across the entire healthcare system. |
USA |
We are displaying education on the unit about the benefits of kangaroo care. please do not share |
Canada |
2 weeks of Kangaroo Care beginning May 15. Prizes. Our Section Head wears his kangaroo costume and visits families. "Caught you promoting kangaroo care" prizes for staff. |
USA |
Mandela kangaroo coloring for siblings and parents.Cincinnati themed basket giveaway raffle for parents. Girl Scout cookies for parents - looking for kangaroo sticker to affix to baggies. |
USA |
We annually do a Kangaroo-a-thon week around Kangaroo Care Day. We advocate for parents to kangaroo their babies and parents and staff receive raffle tickets for each session of Kangaroo care. There are gift basket drawings at the end of the week. Advent Health for Children NICU |
USA |
Increasing awareness of benefits. Hanging signs. Using kangaroo care kits. |
USA |
We encourage as much skin to skin as possible. Highlight the day for the organizations. Have previously held a month long competition for nurses for most time of KCC for their patients. |
USA |
We are hosting an educational event with the public and our nursing staff (e.g., posters, handouts). I am also doing a poster to provide education on the psychological aspects of parental and infant bonding in NICU. |
USA |
Kangaroo-a-thon |
Canada |
Kangaroo challenge |
US |
We are going to paint our patient windows with kangaroos and pass out cards to our parents about the benefits of Kangaroo Care! |
USA |
Our hospital is part of the FPQC Paired Initiative in the state of Florida. This initiative supports early STS with eligible infants in the NICU. It encourages parents to be part of infants care and communication with their infants health care providers. For celebrating kangaroo care day, One of the staff(that would be) dresses in a kangaroo suit and we have ordered Kangaroo cookies for staff and patients on our OB unit. We will also have gifts for a drawing for the parents that do the most STS |
USA |
Kangaroo a thon |
USA |
Giving out stuffed kangaroos and handouts each day in the bedside “pouch”. Stickers for everyone that say “How do you kangaroo?” Portneuf Medical Center |
Finland |
We are launching a guided video for parents about kangaroo care. |
Uk |
Promoting it to all staff and parents. Produce posters and leaflets. Photos to be taken. |
USA |
As a neonatal OT, a large part of my role is facilitating safe skin-to-skin transfers of even our most fragile babies and educating families on the many amazing benefits of KC! |
USA |
We will be raising awareness by making available info/fact sheets about KC to our families in the NICU as well as have a poster available for families and staff at the entrance of our NICU. Yes you can share info on your website with the name of the organization listed already. |
England UK |
The neonatal unit at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust will start celebrating from 1st May. I will have posters and boarder with educational articles explaining what it is and why. Will encourage parents to share photos with us and on our Facebook site and Twitter. I will ask our communications department to share photos and stories.I am hoping to share our information with the “slings library” in Coventry to keep it going at home. |
USA |
Educating and Celebrating group of women at a SUD residential facility. |
USA |
lunch being provided to staff and families, each family will get a bag dedicated to skin to skin, kangaroo-a-thon |
USA |
On Kangaroo Care Day we will be celebrating with our staff to promote parent-infant attachment and bonding. We will be giving each NICU parent a Kangaroo book to read at the bedside. We will also be raffling off a Kangaroo basket with newborn essentials, a stuffed kangaroo, and a sleep sac for use when the baby is discharged. Each staff member is decorating kangaroo to decorate the hallway to the NICU. A 4 foot stuffed kangaroo will be placed at the entrance of the unit. |
USA |
We have information throughout unit with posters and places for parents to take pictures of themselves with infant during KC time. We have tickets to place in basket with amount of time during KC and have contest. We have unit basket raffle for staff also. An ice-cream day for first day and cookies on last day. |
USA |
We have a group that is planning our festivities |
USA |
We hold a 2 week Kangaroo a thon with prizes for both staff and babies/parents. We hold a potluck on May 15th to kick it off. Through out the time we have trivia questions, scrape book pages for parents to track their time and staff/Dr’s dressed as kangaroos. Kangaroo cookies and activities happen over the 2 weeks. |
USA |
We will be having a kangaroo a thon with our families and a small competition with our team members to get moms and dads holding babies! Do not share our information please. We even have someone dressing up as a kangaroo! :) |
Scotland |
We will be decorating the neonatal unit with balloons and posters. We will be raising awareness of the importance of skin to skin and rolling out out parent transfer video. |
Saudi Arabia |
We are planning to. Do small ceremonies in said the nicu we will invite the family’s and owner the mother with most kangaroo hours |
England |
Nottingham University Hospitals Neonatal Unit, We are celebrating with our staff in a giant kangaroo suit, kangaroo colouring and kangaroo quiz! |
USA |
Kangaroo a thon |
UK |
Coffee mornings, poster displays of why skin to-skin is important. Educational, sessions. Involving the community too |
USA |
I will be hosting a small information session inside my office, Ebb & Flow Lactation Services. I will be providing information and providing a small, informal talk about Kangaroo Mother Care, located inside the "the Nest", 217 Columbus Rd, Suite 103, Athens, OH 45701. Contact Julie Gladney, BS, LPN, IBCLC julie@ebbflowlactation.com for more information or go https://ebbflowlactation.com |
USA |
Hosting a kangaroo-a-thon |
UK |
Having skin-to-skin Champions training and supporting parents and staff to promote skin -o-skin. Celebrating with reward/ gifts/ certificates for both parents and staff, including bitesize teaching on developmental care |
UK |
Displays relating to information for parents |
Brasil |
Local action with professionals and family members. |
USA |
We have not decided yet |
USA |
Would love these cards to further promote it with our families |
Share with us how the Kangaroo Care Day has impacted your organization - click here
Staff and parents are equally involved in the care of babies and having shared decisions, with empowerment and continual support |
This really improves our numbers for a sustained amount of time! |
In a positive way with regard to raising awareness of professionals on the subject. |
Our numbers have gone up each year in the amount of time each baby is held during the kangaroo a thon |
I promote skin to skin contact (SSC) as necessary for neurological, metabolic and emotional health. |
It just encourages us to highlight the practice |
We will see. But hoping that this will raise awareness for staff and parents |
This is the first year we acknowledge it |
Provides an additional advocacy resource which has widened our access to resources and strengthened our efforts. |
Not aware if the unit is celebrating it |
Kangaroo Care day focusses everyone on the benefits of KC. Especially great for new staff to learn about KC and its benefits. Then the practice continues throughout the year. |
We are hoping that this year will help us boost our STS |
somewhat however we encourage this care everyday in NICU |
It helps us promote it to families! |
It’s has motivated more parents in the practice is skin to skin |
It really helps the units skin to skin stats and parent frequency of providing this wonderful intervention for their babies. |
Parents on our Facebook site are helping to talk about it and share with others. Photos taken and a booklet made. |
This is our 7th year promoting Kangaroo Care and the amount of times and parent participation has steadily increased in our unit. Staff comfort is also apparent. |
increase of family participation |
Has increased awareness. We see a boost every year for awhile. |
Kangaroo Care day gives us a reminder and pause for the value and benefits of kangaroo care. It offers a great opportunity for annual education and celebration. |
The day is a celebration of what we try to do for babies and families each day. It gives our unit a sense of moving daily in the right direction |
Brings recognition to benefits and why we implement it. |
It has impacted it in a positive way. Our nurses are more knowledgeable and more confident in explaining the rationale behind kangaroo care and encouraging kangaroo care in the unit. |
We advertise it in an attempt to improve our practice |
Making it more visible |
Kangaroo Care has be a very prominent component of the care delivery in our NICU for many years much in part to the dedication of our developmental specials partnering with the physician team. Education and knowledge base of the staff is as well grained into the care delivery process as vital signs, encouraging families to provide this ultimate treatment to their infant. Safety concerns are also in place and a minimum of 5 people provide transition to parent for a ventilated infant. |
It helps us to increase awareness across the whole team of how important it is for our babies and families, the resources get newer staff motivated and more confident to be offering it to parents more frequently. It’s |
yes |
It re-emphasizes the education and advocation for kangaroo care for our patients and the astounding benefits it brings. It is one of the best cares received in the NICU... the closest environment to being back in the womb. |
Families and staff have gained more awareness of the benefits of KC and has helped gained interest and excitement about doing/encouraging KC among our NICU staff. |
It has increased kangaroo care in general in our ward |
Have improved initiation of Kangaroo Care for all NICU admission within 24hr. |
we have had more awareness of the importance of skin to skin with the staff and families present in our unit |
KC cuddle are up |
It promotes more skin to skin care especially for those babies who are just feeders to grow as well as educates staff and parents on the importance. |
We are planning to. Do small ceremonies in said the nicu we will invite the family’s and owner the mother with most kangaroo hours |
It helps us to raise awareness for this important intervention that only a parent can provide. |
We are now promoting Kangaroo care everyday in our unit. We have also brought back the cuddlers in our unit to support this effort. |
It is a great reminder to staff and parents |
We hope this will encourage more families to be involved and increase our nursing/respiratory care education. |
Kangaroo Care Day has definitely increased knowledge and communication of Kangaroo Care benefits amongst are patients parents. The spark in communication has helped us with our efforts in getting more infants skin to skin. |
The Kangaroo Care day increase the awareness og skin-to-skin contact both in the inter professional NICU staff and the parents. |
It has helped tremendously and increased confidence for holding our smallest infants! |
Raising awareness for staff and families |
It is about reclaiming joy in our unit; things are tough right now and we are looking to find the everyday joy for staff to give to parents and babies! |
I believe there is more excitement and buy-in to encourage kangaroo care. |
It always helps to promote and get others involved. |
Always helps to raise awareness of KMC!! |
Very impactful. |
Great awareness event |
Last year was a huge success and we saw the reflection in our skin to skin rates for the month of May. It sparked our motivation but we want it to last year-round! |
This will be our third kangaroo care day! It has brought our team together ❤️ |
Increase in kangarooing overall |
KCD has brought awareness to staff and families regarding the benefits of KC for both baby and mother/father/caregiver. |
A lot |
Helps bring awareness to the staff on how important and impactful this is for our families. |
It has helped to focus our efforts. It is nice to feel we are part of a worldwide initiative. |
Working hard to make it a bigger deal. Just prepping has increased our KC |
It has certainly strengthened our implementation efforts, and is one more resource that can be used to advocate for developmentally supportive care for all of our babies! |
It brings into focus the importance of kangaroo care |
It has helped to create energy around Kangaroo Care and make it fun!! |
Focusing on kangaroo care |
I am trying to get the message out about Kangaroo Care Day by celebrating each year. This is the first year I am hosting an in person event! |
This is a new job for me so I will see how it is in this hospital. |
Helped highlight importance of skin to skin care |
Brings attention energy and enthusiasm to Kangaroo holding. |
Gives us a time to celebrate KC although we probably will celebrate on 5-12 here since it is on weekend this year. |
Motivation for revamping our skin to skin family interactions. |
It always gets staff and parents together sharing their stories. Parents talking to parents. Our communication department is invited to take photos and share on newsletters, Facebook and twitter |
An annual reason to celebrate and shine a light on this important practice. Thank you for motivating us and supporting our efforts! |
Helped increase kangaroo care in our nicu |
It encourages our families to bond with their baby. |
Every year we do the Kangaroo-a-thon our skin to skin numbers increase by at least 5%! |
It really inspires families and staff to do kangaroo care |
Our staff enjoyed the celebration last year and have planned more activities among the unit. |
It helps bring focus to the importance of KC. |
Helping to encourage the practice and move the needle towards increased engagement |
Helps bring more attention to skin to skin |
Inspires family involvement and bonding |
Share with us how the Kangaroo Care Day has impacted your organization - click here
]]>Additionally, together with our Romanian partner parent organisation Asociatia Unu si Unu, we will also report about a charity lottery which EFCNI supported and in which 5 neonatal wards (2 Level II and 3 Level III Units) in Romania will receive a kangaroo mother care chair for their unit. There will be a guest article and social media contributions on this, the article will be available on our website from the beginning of May.
The article will be placed here:https://www.efcni.org/latestnews/
The social media accounts will be: @efcnihttps://www.facebook.com/efcni; @efcnihttps://www.instagram.com/efcni/@GlanceNetworkhttps://www.facebook.com/GlanceNetwork@glance_networkhttps://www.instagram.com/glance_network/
KMC Day is also listed in our awareness days calendar on our website:https://www.efcni.org/awareness-days/
]]>by Buenafe Baldivicio Cala, GCC NIDCAP Coordinator, NIDCAP Professional
We would like to share with you the first ever Kangaroo Care awareness Day in Alqassimi Womens and Children's Hospital Sharjah United Arab of Emirates and joined internationally.
Headed by Dr.Mona who initiated and encourage everyone in the hospital the outcome and importance of Integrating Kangaroo Care to every baby delivered in Alqassimi.It was a successful awareness that they initiated in spite of the Pandemic and supported by hospital leadership Dr.Safiya Said Alkhajah and MOHAP.
Congratulations Alqassimi Womens and Children's Hospital Sharjah United Arab of Emirates.We are looking forward for your continuous support to every newborns and family to your institution with Kangaroo Care and share the good news to every institution the benefits and outcome of kangaroo care.
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The NICU had signs to raise awareness about Kangaroo Care:
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The story is a voice of Father Qamaruddin Pusion, whose wife naturally conceived for the first time after 4 years of marriage. There was no boundaries to their happiness. It was simply the greatest event of their life. At 37 weeks of gestation, she gave birth to a baby boy weighing 1.8 Kg at home. People at community said babies with low birth weight don’t survive, they are weak and eventually die of complications.
“As the birth attendant (Dai) told me that baby is low birth weight, I was in shock and did not know what to do. People around started saying he will not survive. We both were stressed.”- Father
Next morning when AKU research team arrived at their home, the baby was lethargic and had cold extremities. The family was counselled for skin-to-skin contact that it would increase the chances of baby’s survival. The team immediately intervened by encouraging mother to breastfeed him and kept baby against mothers’ bare chest with warm sheets. Baby’s color and temperature improved after KMC.
The father was determined that skin-to-skin contact will save his baby. He actively participated and performed KMC. A new universe was unveiled to Mr. Qamaruddin as he performed KMC with his child.
“When I held baby on my bare chest, I could sense him relax and comfortable. I noticed the baby was growing and I was determined to see him survive” said father.
Both mother and father tried to provide maximum hours of KMC to their child. They wrapped and carried him while performing their routine activities.
Figure 2: Parents performed KMC, with their routine work.
By the end of one month, baby weighed 2.8 Kg and after 5 months, he was around 5.3 Kg. The gradual and significant improvement in baby weight brought pleasure and extreme joy among parents, as they could sense their baby surviving against all odds.
“I want the baby to grow so people can know that LBW babies can survive.” Father
The father expressed their deepest gratitude to the concerned team of Aga Khan University for their support. The father has become a mentor and KMC champion. He talks to the male members of his village and encourage them for KMC by sharing his experience.
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Project Details
Dr. Shabina Ariff and her team from Aga Khan University is conducting an implementation trial to improve uptake of KMC at community level. Dr. Shabina is an expert clinician scientist and has led multiple national and international research projects aimed to improve maternal and neonatal health in Pakistan. She has been advocating for community and facility KMC. Presently she is conducting a trial on community at the rural district Dadu, South of Pakistan. The population of the district is marginalized, where majority of births take place at home, and accessibility to basic neonatal care is a major issue. We are implementing this low cost intervention and exploring its impact on newborn survival and breast-feeding practices.
Dr. Shabina Ariff- shabina.ariff@aku.edu
Hiba Khan – hiba.khan@aku.edu
A journey from gloom to hopefulness: “Parveen and Sadam are happy and feel good about KMC”
Globally, around 20 million babies are born with low birth weight (LBW) (weight less than 2500 grams at birth) each year, and nearly 97% of these are born in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) (1). These babies are at high risk of death and may have impaired growth and development (2). Currently, Pakistan’s neonatal mortality rate is 42 deaths per 1000 live births, which is one of the highest in the world (3). Essential neonatal care is unaffordable and inaccessible in most parts of the country. Simple cost-effective measures and evidence-based interventions such as Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) could prevent a large number of the deaths and adverse neonatal outcomes (1).
In response to this, Dr. Shabina Ariff and her team from Aga Khan University is conducting an implementation trial to improve uptake of KMC at community level. Dr. Shabina is an expert clinician scientist and has led multiple national and international research projects aimed to improve maternal and neonatal health in Pakistan. She has been advocating for community and facility KMC. Presently she is conducting a trial on community at the rural district Dadu, South of Pakistan. The population of the district is marginalized, where majority of births take place at home, and accessibility to basic neonatal care is a major issue. We are implementing this low-cost intervention and exploring its impact on newborn survival and breast-feeding practices.
The story is a reflection of how KMC served as a miracle for couple Parveen and Sadam, who live in a small village of Fateh Pur, in District Dadu. It is a remote area with no facility providing advanced newborn care.
Figure 1: 26-year-old Parveen providing KMC to her low birthweight, preterm baby |
Our KMC research team met 26-year-old Parveen in April 2019, when she was seven months pregnant. She had no living children, since one of her infants was a 30 weeks preterm neonatal death, and she had two stillbirths. Stricken with grief and hopelessness on the loss of her three pregnancies, her worries exacerbated as she dwelled on the idea of never being able to bear children. Her husband Sadam is an unskilled labourer who barely manages household expenses. Medical expenses and accessing health facilities added financial constraints to their lives. The coupled grief of losing three children and being unable to seek medical consultation left the couple distressed and dejected.
When our team met Parveen, she was anxious and stressed for her unborn baby. The KMC mobilization team introduced her to KMC and educated her on its benefits in saving newborn lives. She was also counselled on the importance of antenatal visits, birthing in a healthcare facility by a skilled birth attendant, danger signs to look out for during her pregnancy and after the baby is born, attending post-natal care visits to follow-up on the baby’s health.
On 20th May 2019, Parveen gave birth to a low birthweight, baby-girl weighing about 1.68 kg. Initially, Parveen was scared to perform KMC on her little one. The KMC mobilization team gave her a demonstration of KMC with a local wrap and successfully encouraged her to initiate the practice within the first hour of life. She loved every minute she performed KMC, and the baby received approximately 12 to 14 hours of KMC each day. The whole family saw a glimpse of hope and came together to ensure the baby’s survival. Parveen’s mother-in-law and brother-in-law supported her in providing skin-to-skin contact to the baby
After seeing her baby growth and survival, Parveen was ecstatic and the family experienced profound happiness.
“Each day I saw progress in my baby, it gave me confidence”- Parveen
Figure 2: Picture of baby taken at her first birthday, she weighed 8.3 kg. |
Parveen shared her success story with pregnant women and other women of reproductive age in her village to encourage the practice of KMC. She further became a KMC mother champion and helped provide other mothers in her community on the practice of KMC.
“I am very happy and I can say KMC is an excellent method for a small baby;
it saved my baby’s life. I will advocate KMC for all small babies in my community”- Parveen
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by
Dr. Shabina Ariff- shabina.ariff@aku.edu
Hiba Khan – hiba.khan@aku.edu
References
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It is designed to disseminate kangaroo mother care knowledge among general public especially parents with premature babies in the community and among health care professionals.
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a low-cost intervention for managing premature and low birth weight newborns. It involves nestling the baby in skin-to-skin contact position on the mother’s bare chest as soon as possible after birth, accompanied by exclusive breastfeeding. It keeps the baby warm, safe from infection, improves breastfeeding rates, accelerates weight gain, and strengthens the emotional bond between the mother and child.
Still 50% of births in Pakistan takes place at homes and in the community and uptake of KMC is low unlike other LMIC countries. This video has been developed for advocacy and enhance knowledge, provide confidence to health care providers, and benefit mothers /parents families and society at large .
Dr. Shabina Ariff- shabina.ariff@aku.edu
Hiba Khan – hiba.khan@aku.edu
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Children's of Atlanta - NICU
A raffle for gift baskets. Each mom gets to place a kangaroo mama and baby on the door and gets a raffle ticket each time (at least an hour) she does skin to skin during the week.
A raffle for gift baskets. Each mom gets to place a kangaroo mama and baby on the door and gets a raffle ticket each time (at least an hour) she does skin to skin during the week.
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Kangaroo Care Day is not part of this research but we are happy to share this information.
"Researchers at The University of Queensland, Australia, are conducting a survey looking at the experiences of nurses and mothers with Kangaroo Care in NICUs globally.
Are you a biological mother of a NICU baby that is less than 3 years old? Or a NICU nurse with experience in supporting parents with kangaroo care?
Follow this link to start: tiny.cc/TheJoeyProject
The survey closes on May 15th, Kangaroo Care Day.
For information contact:
Victoria Gill
"Staff and families from our neonatal intensive care unit have been celebrating all things #Kangaroocare and #skintoskin. There are some amazing benefits to babies and their families."
]]>This year we join the on its 2nd Year International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day in support with International Kangaroo Care Organization and Neonatal Improvement Program from ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
Congratulations to MCH Dammam who lead the awareness which begun last April 22, 2019 and Alyamamah Hospital opens the Kangaroo Care awareness that represent 31 hospitals around the Kingdom, MCH Alhasa , King Salman Hospital, MCH Karj, MCH Najran, MCH Abha, MCH Khamees Musayt, Uhod Hospital ,king Fahd Alabaha and small awareness in every Region of Saudi Arabia.
As one of our initiative is to implement Kangaroo Care in every nursery that lead with 31 NICU MCH hospital under Neonatal Improvement Program, we trained the staff and professional guided with NIDCAP Federation International, FINE 1 and FINE 2 Training guided by Sophia NIDCAP Training Center and Chicago NIDCAP Training Center, we send staff for breastfeeding training course and developing a family centered care by promoting Kangaroo Care in NICU and to all MCH Hospital. We continuously educate the staff, the system and most especially the community. To enhance and standardized kangaroo Care in all Nursery.
Thank you very and we are looking forward to continuously support and full implementation of kangaroo care in Saudi Arabia.
BayCare was present! Joseph’s Women's Hospital in Orlando, FL participated in Kangaroo-A _Thon on May 15. We had 19 babies/ moms / dad participate which was 53% of the unit on that day. Our unit is the Neonatal Intensive care Unit. The day was a huge success!
]]>Our hospital participated in Kangaroo-a-Thon on May 15th.
We had 19 babies/ moms / dad participate which was 53% of the unit on that day. Our unit is the Neonatal Intensive care Unit. The day was a huge success!
Thank you. Looking forward to next year!
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by Dr. G. Calciolari
On May 11, the first course on Kangaroo Mother Care and developmental care will be completed. 12 hrs of training sessions per group were provided in 3 days. It has been very well received!
In Ngozi, Burundi, in June, the new KMC unit will be inaugurated. It is the first in the country.
The KMC area includes:
The construction of the KMC area (2 large rooms+services) is brought to a conclusion thanks the collaboration between the AMAHORO onlus association of Verona and the FONDAZIONE CHIESI of Parma for the financial support. The AMAHORO association invited Dr. Calciolari - for the purposes of improving the education of the local staff on KMC - as member of SIN (italian society of neonatology) and of the ZEROPIU' onlus association of Varese.
In the actual neonatal ward Skin to Skin is encouraged and Intermittent KMC is performed.
Fathers are also active in skin to skin even though the local culture is not so favorable towards KMC (they prefer to put babies on their back).
On behalf of KMC foundation India I am happy to inform you that we have planned for a big program on 15th May at Parul University baroda to celebrate the International KMC awareness day.
We expect about 400+ students from Nursing, Ayurveda( Indian Traditional medicine) and Homeopathy to attend along with our members and consultants in Pediatrics, Obstetrics and newborn and also faculty members and Preventive and social medicine persons to attend.
KMC children will be inaugurating the function and Dr. Socorro Mendoza , president of KMC foundation, Philippines will be the chief guest.
I will send detailed program and photographs later.
]]>The Hackensack Meridian Health at Hackensack UMC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit holds a Kangaroo-athon event twice a year; during the Fall and Spring, coinciding with Kangaroo Care Day.
The event is held for 2 weeks. NICU parents are sent an invitation explaining benefits of kangaroo care and inviting their participation which include posting kangaroo wall clings on the Kangaroo Wall of Fame. Each kangaroo cling signifies each infant who received kangaroo care during the 2 week event. Each parent is given a raffle ticket to enter for a prize at the end of the event.
Staff as well as vendors are asked to donate prizes for the parents. Staff are also eligible to win a prize when they encourage and assist parents to kangaroo. During the event we members of our staff donate kangaroo shaped chocolates and cookies and even a kangaroo cake.
We are now in preparation phase to hold our Spring 2019 Kangaroo-athon which we plan to kick off Kangaroo Care Day on May 15th.
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by Kelly
We are going to try to achieve 200 hours for our Level 3 NICU in Winston Salem, NC.
With each visit, parents will write their name on an index card with how many hours they Kangaroo, as well as the name of the staff members that helped them.
The Kangaroo cards will serve as raffle tickets for parents and staff to win prizes.
We will have a party on the last day. Sewing For Babies-Winston Salem, has made Kangaroo hats and cutouts for the babies and Capturing Hopes Photography will come and take pictures of babies Kangarooing.
One of our Neonatologist will be bouncing around in this Kangaroo suit, showing support for families providing this important therapy! So much fun!
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My 15 seconds of fame talking about Kangaroo Care on our local news station. I hope they post the other part of the interview that was a bit longer and explained what Kangaroo Care is.
[Video]
Our census is low right now but the little kangaroos are starting to accumulate.
Gift basket is on display. Thank you Yamile Jackson for the Zaky Zak gift. Looks very nice in the basket of goodies.