A newly launched development impact bond (DIB) is funding a health practice that will save and improve hundreds of newborn lives in Cameroon. This ground-breaking, DIB is the first DIB globally to focus on newborns, the first DIB to focus on maternal and child health in Africa, and whose design has been led by the government of Cameroon.
Every year, 20,000 newborn babies die in Cameroon. Low birth weight (LBW) and prematurity are leading risk factors for neonatal mortality. Kangaroo Mother Care is a proven and globally recommended health practice for babies born early or small, which involves holding the baby skin-to-skin on the mother’s or other caregiver’s chest, ideally feeding them only breastmilk, minimising time in hospital and having close follow-up of the mother and baby once they return home. Research has shown that KMC offers even greater protection against newborn mortality than traditional incubator care.
https://www.grandchallenges.ca/2019/first-of-its-kind-development-impact-bond-launched-in-cameroon-to-save-newborn-babies/
