Istiqlal Hospital: the Latest Team Member

This past April the HEEDA team in Kabul introduced Embrace to Istiglal ایستیقلال  Hospital. Istiqlal is one of Kabul's larger public hospitals in the city and very well known. It has been a landmark of the Darlaman area and still bears the marks of decades of war. The only burn center in Kabul, it also boasts a major maternity was and Neonatal critical care units. We are excited to add to Istiqlal hospitals list of accomplishments and capabilities.

Please do not use our photos without permission 

A New Year

Happy New Year.

The Lunar New Year was also just a few weeks ago. For those who celebrate, Nowrooz Mubarak!

To prepare for the coldest months in Kabul this past winter, at the end of 2013, we expanded our partnership with two large public health centers: Indra Ghandi Hospital (IGH) in November and Malalai Maternity Hospital (MMH) shortly before that.

At MMH, a low birth weight infant in the Embrace Warmer being suctioned by a nurse as the parents and doctor watch over

Warmth in Afghanistan is hard to find during the bitter snowy winters, and hypothermia is a significant contributor to infant mortality and morbidity. With the Embrace warmer now being employed at 3 hospitals, we have already cared for over 5,000 newborns since the start of our efforts.

Now we have begun preparations for next winter. Our capacity at Rabia Balkhi Hospital will be increased 100% this month, with more modest increases at IGH and MMH.

However, saving the best news for last, we would like to share with you the most exciting development of this new year: In the coming weeks, we will begin partnership with a fourth public hospital, Istiglal ایستیقلال (IST). This is a special hospital in Kabul and a well known Landmark. The population it serves is especially underserved and we believe we will make a strong impact in the lives on many newborns.

IGH: one of the first infants to be placed in our Warmers

Please add your name to our list to receive updates as they come available. We have dedicated ourselves to at least quarterly updates. Thank you for your support and... please share.

Malalai Maternity Hospital: Expanding the reach of Embrace Infant Warmer ahead of the Kabul winter

Introducing Malalai Maternity Hospital. Located in Kabul, it is one of the larger birthing centers in the city and a well recognized name that has survived decades of war. It has been a focus of multiple national and international organizations who recognize the important role it plays in healthcare delivery for the entire region.

The first premature infant placed into the Baby Wrap

Along with our partners at Embrace, we have selected Malalai as the second site to host the use of Embrace Nest. This is the first step of our efforts this fall to counter infant hypothermia before the onset of the harsh winter. Embrace is ideal for the setting; it provides constant heat to vulnerable low-birth-weight and premature newborns in a region where supplies are scarce and infant mortality among the highest in the world. At each site, the Embrace program is accompanied by training of mothers and care-givers in community-based hypothermia prevention measures.

Training session for doctors and nurses of Malalai Maternity Hospital

Our initial site at Rabia Balkhi Hospital (click here for the story) has seen a great benefit from the 10 units in use there since April of this year, with over 2,000 infants treated. Malalai will also start with 10 units in full-time use, with an anticipated increase in the number of units in the future. 

 

All photos are the property of HED-A and Embrace, please do not reproduce without placing a formal request and written consent.