Author: Edith Gicheha and Sophie Bochaberi
Every year, millions of babies born too soon struggle to breathe in their first hours of life. In sub-Saharan Africa, over one million small and sick newborns die annually, with 75% of these deaths being preventable with high coverage and quality interventions and technologies. Respiratory distress syndrome, difficulty in breathing due to immature lungs, remains a leading cause of newborn death worldwide, with the highest burden in low-resource settings. For many of these vulnerable babies, an early administration of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) breathing support can keep them alive until they can breathe on their own.
CPAP use requires training
In recent years, hospitals in Africa have improved access to neonatal CPAP devices, with the increasing availability of affordable CPAP machines. However, a training gap in CPAP use among medical communities at these institutions still needs to be addressed before the full impact of delivering CPAP can improve outcomes.
With standardized, high-quality, practical training that equips clinicians and medical professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to use CPAP safely and effectively, the promise of administering CPAP effectively to newborns can lead to improved outcomes.
“Access to CPAP therapy in every newborn unit isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifesaving right for every baby fighting for their first breath. To truly save newborn lives, healthcare professionals must be equipped with the skills and confidence to use these technologies well. Breathing is a right, not a privilege,” says Patrick Too, Chairperson of the Association of African Neonatal Nurses (AANeoN).
Accessible, high-quality CPAP training
Clinicians first learning about CPAP intervention face questions such as, “When should I initiate CPAP? How do I prepare a CPAP machine for use? How do I monitor a baby safely? What steps are needed to prevent complications? How long should the baby be on CPAP?”
To provide training focused on these CPAP-related questions, NEST360 partnered with the World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA) to launch the online CPAP course: “Mastering the use of CPAP devices: a level 2 hospital practical guide.”
The self-paced online course provides healthcare professionals with practical knowledge and hands-on experience to safely and confidently operate and maintain essential newborn CPAP devices, such as those used in WHO Level 2 care facilities in Africa.
Developed under the direction of experienced clinicians working in partnership with the NEST360 Alliance in Africa, the course includes practical techniques for CPAP care in hospital settings, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Over 30,000 healthcare professionals trained already
“ANA heartily supports the introduction of this good educational material,” says Dr Mahlet Abayneh, Chair, Education Committee, African Neonatal Association (ANA).
Launched in October last year, over 30,000 healthcare professionals from 68 countries in Africa and beyond signed up and completed “Mastering the use of CPAP devices: a level 2 hospital practical guide,” building their skills to give babies a healthy start through this course.
The course was developed by clinicians with expertise in caring for small and sick newborns. As medical professionals themselves, they created content to effectively teach their peers the techniques and knowledge needed to use CPAP with newborns. The course was designed for clinicians, nurses, clinical officers, doctors, new staff joining newborn units, interns, and students preparing for newborn care rotations
The course also provides valuable learning for those supporting and leading newborn care efforts, including quality improvement teams, hospital management, regional health leaders, Ministry of Health stakeholders, and program managers implementing newborn care initiatives.
Health practitioners from anywhere in the world can access the course offline and on the go, while also gaining accreditation from in-country medical associations and learning partners.
Improving newborn care to reach SDGs
Today, progress needs to move seven times faster if we are to reach the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing newborn mortality to below 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030. To achieve this goal, strong health systems, skilled health workers, and access to essential devices that help babies breathe, such as CPAPs, are crucial.
Looking ahead, NEST360 will launch other courses that support healthcare professionals, including biomedical engineers, in their learning journey to save newborn lives.
Every small and sick newborn, everywhere given a chance to survive and thrive, unlocks the potential of families, the growth of communities, and the economies of nations. As we continue to expand access to lifesaving technologies like CPAP and build clinicians’ skills, it is time for governments, partners, and communities to invest in quality newborn care, because every tiny life saved shapes the future we all share.
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