Eden Jarrett was born prematurely at 29 weeks and under two pounds in a New York hospital a little over 17 years ago. Today, she draws on her own vulnerable beginning to make a big impact for other premature babies.
Nurse Gabriel Oluremi is among the heroes providing quality care to small and sick babies in the neonatal unit (NNU) at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. She shared with us a typical day in the NNU.
Tanzania is making significant progress towards establishing its first Human Milk Bank at Muhimbili National Hospital, Mloganzila aspart of a broader effort in Tanzania to improve care for small and sick newborns.
Breast milk is the best nutrition for every baby, including those who are small or sick. It helps babies grow, strengthens their immune system, supports healthy brain development, and lowers the risk of life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.
KMC shows what is possible when evidence, high-quality care, and well-designed health systems work together. For KMC to truly save lives at scale, it must be supported by the basics: functioning newborn spaces for the mother-infant dyad, reliable power, skilled healthcare professionals, and the right equipment in the right space.
The success of IMNHC 2026 will not be measured by the high quality of the conference sessions, but by what happens in hospitals, ministries, budget cycles, and neonatal units across Africa in the months and years ahead.
The most successful solutions for improving care are often tied to a better understanding of a system through its data. This understanding can lead to action and changes that improve care.
IMNHC 2026 was a symbolic representation of the need for collaboration between governments and partners to improve the health outcomes of mothers and newborns. Beyond the commitment of its attendees, the conference was also a reminder that we know the problems and have the solutions to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths; what is required now is strategic co-creation, investment, and implementation to effect change.
In a new article published by AllAfrica, partners from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, the Beginnings Fund, and NEST360 highlight the need for sustained investment in health systems, skilled health workers, and proven innovations that save lives. They demonstrate the importance of strong data systems to track lifesaving newborn interventions such as CPAP, Kangaroo Mother Care, phototherapy, and hypothermia prevention.