World · 19 d ago
A Gaza hospital turns to skin-to-skin care to help premature babies grow
Skin-to-skin care for low-birthweight newborns
kangaroo mother care
Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis has begun a pilot program of kangaroo mother care, backed by WHO, UNICEF and the UN Population Fund. A baby is held against a parent's bare chest for long periods, alongside breastfeeding and medical care.
Fewer newborn deaths, according to WHO guidance
32 %
World Health Organization guidance says kangaroo mother care cuts newborn deaths by 32 per cent compared with conventional care.
Before Oct 2023
178 incubators
Nov 2024
About 54
The method does not replace incubators, which remain scarce. Gaza had 178 incubators before the war began in October 2023, and about 54 by November 2024, according to UNICEF.
“It can help babies grow, gain weight and leave the hospital earlier, but some babies need other interventions, such as respiratory support,” said Khawla al-Madhoun, the hospital's director of nursing for maternity and neonatal care.
— Khawla al-Madhoun, Nasser Medical Complex
