The first 28 days of life are the most vulnerable, with nearly 2.4 million newborn deaths occurring globally each year, according to UNICEF’s 2024 data. Stillbirths remain a critical yet often overlooked challenge, with an estimated 2 million occurring worldwide annually. We are committed to improving newborn survival and reducing stillbirth rates through evidence-based interventions such as essential newborn care, skilled birth attendance, and timely management of complications. Our efforts focus on strengthening health systems to ensure quality care during childbirth and the vital postnatal period. At our centre, we have pioneered innovative solutions to improve newborn survival and health outcomes. Among these are Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and Omwana, both developed as part of our commitment to evidence-based, scalable newborn interventions. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a cornerstone of our newborn care approach, promoting skin-to-skin contact and exclusive breastfeeding to support preterm and low-birth-weight infants. This low-cost, high-impact intervention has been integrated into health facilities across Uganda, contributing significantly to improved newborn survival rates. The Omwana initiative extends care beyond hospital walls, bringing vital newborn health services into communities through trained community health workers. This community-based model ensures timely identification and management of newborn illnesses, strengthening the continuum of care from hospital to home. As of 2025, we have successfully implemented the Uganda Newborn Programme, achieving significant gains for the country. This milestone was realized through a strong partnership with a coalition of institutions namely; Makerere University School of Public Health, Baylor Foundation Uganda, Adara Development Uganda, Nsambya Hospital, and the Ministry of Health with funding from ELMA Philanthropies. Our programme introduced unique innovations including the “Hospital-to-Home” model, which strengthens continuity of care through coordinated partnerships between hospitals and communities. We have supported the construction of Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICUs) across multiple regions in Uganda, including Bunyoro.
Capacity Building & Mentorship
Supporting researchers, practitioners, and emerging health leaders through mentorship, training, internships, and collaborative learning opportunities.
