Newborn Health

Sharing E4A-MamaYe’s tools as Global Public Goods for health

As donors, governments, and communities strive to deliver Universal Health Coverage, it is important to share experiences and tools as we try to find ways of advancing health sector accountability.…

Harnessing the Power of Technology to Save Mothers & Babies

Today, Lagos State launches a new app for notifying and reviewing maternal and perinatal deaths. In this blog, we look at how digitising Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response has the…

Inadequate health data affecting the voice of young people

Young persons in Nigeria are often excluded from the nation’s health and developmental policy-making processes and programs. From issues on gender mainstreaming to equity and inclusion; young people…

Politics & Advocacy: Prioritising Maternal Health Care

Achieving health for all by 2030 remains the focus of governments and health advocates around the world, especially in this last decade. With only 10 years left to achieve the Sustainable Development…

4 takeaways for the next generation of MNH advocates

Grassroots civil society organisations (CSOs) play a central role in improving the health of mothers and babies. Empowering them with advocacy skills to influence decision-makers in government to…

Signs of change for MPDSR in Kenya

Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response has become an important talking point both at county and national level in Kenya. In this blog, Federica Signoriello talks through why MPDSR is…

Spotlight: a MamaYe MNCH Champion for Accountability

Elizabeth Kah is an MNCH champion in Nigeria - with her work, she promotes accountability for the implementation of healthcare policies that will help in improving maternal and newborn mortality…

#ESAK2018 – Time to discuss social accountability in Kenya

We are getting ready for the ‘Enhancing Social Accountability in Kenya Health Sector’ conference on 14th-15th March 2018. More than 150 participants will join the event at the AMREF Health Africa…

Family planning

Standfirst to be uploaded here

2.6 million Reasons to invest in stillbirth estimates

2.6 million babies worldwide are stillborn each year. The majority of these deaths are preventable.

Counting and Accounting for Every Stillbirth

Following nine months of exciting wait, it is unimaginable despair for a mother to learn of stillbirth.

Early detection of Sepsis

Have you visited a public health facility and wondered why it looks so unclean and disorganised?

Making maternal and newborn health interventions sustainable

Sustainability is key to interventions that seek to make the lives of beneficiaries better. Read a great example of a self-sustaining MamaYe-Evidence4Action Nigeria maternal and newborn health…

Let’s sustain breastfeeding together

Every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter and health care.

Breastfeeding: giving babies the best start in life

As we celebrate breastfeeding week, let us support women to breastfeed anytime and anywhere.

Tackling inappropriate marketing of milk-substitutes

In November 2016, the United Nation made a statement on the urgency for countries to support, promote, and protect breastfeeding. 

Another MamaYe Super Activist breaks MNH barrier!

Monsurat has found a way to make pregnant women visit the health facility more than ever, to be delivered of their pregnancies. Her inspiration came from her readiness to take actions that will help…

Bauchi state scorecards for Maternal and Newborn Health

The Bauchi State Accountability for Maternal and Newborn Health with support from MamaYe, produced scorecards on maternal and newborn health and health budget for year 2016.

Looking forward to a Kenya where all women and newborns survive

All women and newborns should be able to survive childbirth.  Our political leaders have a duty to adopt positive, cost-effective and proactive measures to save maternal and newborn lives.

'Whatever your Political Colours' campaign launches

A new campaign, “Whatever your political colours” has been launched to urge political leaders to prioritise maternal and newborn health.

SDGs: "Accelerating protection & empowerment"

That’s a significant target, within just one of the aspirational Global Goals that were adopted at the UN General Assembly in September 2015. It is also a target that is integral to our work at E4A-…

Community Mobilisation for maternal and newborn health

The MamaYe campaign is gradually becoming a movement of people taking action to help improve the lives of pregnant women and newborns in their communities. This story shows how people connect for…

MamaYe training journalists on Maternal and Newborn Health

Across Nigeria, journalists are publishing reports that are re-shaping maternal and newborn health issues. We contribute to their efforts through trainings that can make their reporting more…

Int’l Women’s Day 2017: Meet Sakeenah-Salvador Bakari

Commemorating the International Women's Day 2017, we share the bold story Sakeenah-Salvador Bakari.

Mama Ye! celebrates radio journalists

Celebrating the journalists in Tanzania on World Radio Day.

The numbers matter. Here's why

More than five million babies die in the last few weeks of pregnancy, during labour or soon after delivery every year. Reviewing deaths can lead to fewer such cases in the future.

Iyaloja of Lagos champions advocacy for mothers and newborns

Iyaloja is rallying millions of market women towards improving maternal and newborn health in Lagos State.

Preterm Births Can be Prevented

Malawi has the highest preterm birth rate in the world. Every year, 120,200 babies are born preterm, and 5,300 of these die due to preterm birth complications. But two women did not want their babies…

Investigative Journalist of the Year Award

The MamaYe investigative reporting for maternal and newborn health is to improve the positive representation of stories around the health of pregnant women and newborns, and also to ensure that such…

Breastfeeding may prevent unplanned pregnancy

Studies show that colostrum is beneficial for the health of newborn babies. Nnenne, a breastfeeding mother, shares her knowledge about colostrum.

Breast milk has all the nutrients a child needs

Sallieu Sesay reviews the benefits of breastfeeding. Do mothers really know the secret to a bright, strong and healthy child? The answer is right here. Breast milk.

Can investigative journalism help achieve change for MNH?

While investigative journalism has helped redress public office affairs at different levels, we want to see if it can help unraveling the reasons our government is not fulfilling ITS pregnant women…

MamaYe awards best journalists

MamaYe Malawi has awarded two best journalists with outstanding maternal and newborn health stories during this year’s NAMISA Gala awards.

MamaYe Advocacy Group Joins DHMT to prevent measles spread

The MamaYe Koinadugu Advocacy Group has joined the District Health Management Team (DHMT) in Koinadugu district in their advocacy campaign to contain the further spread of measles.

MamaYe partners Media Trust on maternal and newborn health

MamaYe has strengthened its partnership with media houses to improve coverage and delivery of evidence-supported maternal and newborn health in the news.

Exhibiting To Save Mothers and Babies

MamaYe and Parent And Child Health Initiative (PACHI) exhibited their campaign activities during the Research Dissemination Conference organised by the Malawi College of Medicine.

20 Journalists Sign MoU with MamaYe, Promising to Champion Mothers and Babies

MamaYe media close-out sessions brought together 20 editors and health reporters in Bonthe and Koinadugu. In the end participants signed a MoU with MamaYe as a commitment to continue reporting on…

Youth-activists saving the day for maternal, newborn health

We are glad that we have provided the platform for young people to demand their health rights and contribute to policies that will enhance the quality of their family lives.

Student challenges politician on maternal, newborn health

Read the Winner of MamaYe's essay competition. We believe Hadiza's story set the health agenda for the Bauchi State's governor, Mohammed A. Abubakar.

Make mothers and babies a priority

Chiku Lweno-Aboud urges Member of Parliament candidates in Tanzania to address the issue of maternal and newborn mortality by suggesting concrete strategies and policies.

Run For Mothers

MamaYe is again participating in the Mothers Fun Run to ensure safe motherhood in Mchinji District.

New distance learning radio programme to strengthen knowledge

MamaYe was invited to participate in a workshop to design a distance learning radio programme. Here's a recount of what happened.

Youths equip themselves with MNH knowledge

MamaYe activists participate in the MNH Knowledge contest. Read more to learn about the winner of the second round.

Bauchi unveils 5-point health agenda, doles out N160m!

Bauchi State governor makes a huge commitment to the health sector, including maternal and newborn health.

MamaYe Media Engagement in Koinadugu and Bonthe

Journalists participate in media trainings to understand and accurately report MNH issues to save the lives of mothers and babies.

Anyimadu-Antwi, the MP supporting maternal health

A Member of Parliament has repaired a defective ambulance in a bid to reduce maternal and newborn deaths in Ashanti.

A short profile of the Paediatric Society of Ghana

Learn about the PSG, a member of the Evidence for Action Maternal and Newborn Health Professional Society.

MamaYe Ghana appeals to doctors

MamaYe! Advocacy Coalition called on leaders to end the doctors' strike for the sake of mothers and babies.

World Breastfeeding Week 2015: Breastfeeding and Work

Individual experts, institutions, civil society including UN agencies are this week reminding everyone the importance of breastfeeding. It is August 1-7. In this short blog we would like to share…

Activists continue to inspire and mobilise

Here is a recount of MamaYe's DLA meeting in Freetown where activists share stories of success and plan activities.

Journalist who champions Maternal and Newborn Health via radio

Surajo Ma'aji receives MamaYe! Champions Award for his work in maternal and newborn health in Bauchi State.

Shining a bright light on maternal & newborn health

Dr. Belinda Afriyie Nimako and her team at the South Dayi Health Directorate contribute to scorecard implementation and community engagement activities.

Mama Atrato, MamaYe's hero in Ho

Meet Mama Atrato, Queen Mother of Ho Dome and champion of maternal and newborn health.

MNH Coalition stops National Health Partners Summit

Members of the MamaYe Advocacy Coalition momentarily stopped the 2015 Summit to demand game-changing interventions for preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

10 Reasons Why Hospital is Safe in Times of Ebola

MamaYe approached Dr A.P. Koroma to explain why the hospital is safe for mothers and newborns, and to encourage pregnant women to use the services.

MP equips CHPS compound to serve pregnant women

The Member of Parliament for Tano North in Brong-Ahafo Region, Mrs. Freda Prempeh, has presented medical equipment worth GH¢30,000.00 to the Subonpan Community Health Planning Services compound in…

Male Involvement in Maternal Health

Revision of policies and laws and closer collaboration between different sectors are needed to address the male involvement in maternal and newborn health outcomes.

ISODEC empowers citizens to demand quality health services

Citizens in five districts in Northern and Upper East Region can now demand better health care delivery by texting their concerns of poor health service delivery to the authorities.

MamaYe Ghana condemns newborn deaths caused by power crisis

Finding solutions to the reported cases of newborn deaths as a result of unending fitful power supply

Floods in Malawi threaten maternal and newborn health

Floods have hit Malawi and have left thousands destitute. While we appreciate that a lot are suffering, where does this leave a pregnant woman and issues of maternal and newborn health?

Get the facts about newborns in Tanzania

It is tragic that many people are not aware of these big losses. Bigger than the tax aversion scandals my fellow country men and women make noise about daily, because we cannot put a price tag on a…

Children will get a new vaccine targeting 10 diseases

This could avert an additional 486,957 deaths of children over the next six years.

Prematurity matters - we must act now

Every year, one million babies die from preterm birth complications. Why is progress so slow?

Accountability for Maternal and Newborn Survival – Rethinking our strategies!

Global efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths remain a far cry from reality.

Using mobile phones for health related messages

Dr Judy Gold provides her top three ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ around using mobile phones for health messaging.

Ebola: what does this mean for maternal and newborn health?

Prior to the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), progress had been made in improving the health of women and newborns in Sierra Leone.

Facing the Giants: the MamaYe Clubs' activists take action

With the introduction of the MamaYe Clubs in the districts, the biggest question has been: Can students, who have never been pregnant, educate women on issue of pregnancy and childbirth?

Abiye joins MamaYe!'s accountability mechanism to save lives

Accountability in the handling of maternal and newborn health issues is fast becoming a national tool that transparent policy makers are willing and ready to embrace.

Nigeria not budgeting using evidence – expert

The lack of equity in distribution of wealth for health creates another shortcoming in channelling adequate resources to develop the health sector and achieve evidence-based outcome.

Biking for mothers and babies

“Every journey starts with a step “so they say.

Using Sports to Spread Maternal and Child Health Messages

MamaYe has school-based youth clubs that are actively involved in the advocacy work.

Under-five survival hangs on newborn survival!

Nigeria muscles up against under-five mortality at the newborns health experts’ National Newborn Conference in Abuja.

Persistence while facing an emergency

We recently conducted an assessment of 10 health facilities to better gauge the preparedness of our clinics to handle the major spike in Ebola cases in Freetown.

Tracking Financial Commitments for Women and Children

We might be operating in our own local environment, but certainly international decisions, whether we are aware of or consulted, affect how much resources come to us.

Improving MNH in Ghana through scorecards

Creating accountability at the health facility and district level using an innovative mHealth data collection system.

Kabaza Mamaye Activists Cycle for Mothers Day!

Creativity hit the kabaza cyclists and they thought of cycling 120km to Mchinji in a bid to raise K5 million.

Let's mobilize political support for maternal and newborn health - First Lady

Ghana’s First lady has urged other African First Ladies to work tirelessly to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

Evidence drives a revolution in accountability

Could a strategic combination of evidence, advocacy and accountability be just the answer to achieving big outcomes in maternal and newborn health?

Local Media Championing Mothers and Babies Survival

The partnership with the Union of Tanzanian Press Clubs (UTPC) is exciting - and it has the potential to tell every Tanzanian why they need to take action for out mothers and babies.

Women and health professionals spark new cycle of improving maternal and newborn health

Women and health professionals spark new cycle of improving maternal and newborn health. This article is provided by University of Southampton

The Ebola Crisis: Implications on Maternal and Child Health in Sierra Leone

A worrying concern over the Ebola scourge is its potential to affect the health of the most vulnerable groups in our society: women and children. As a country, we are one of the nations with the…

Every Life Counts: Marching to save mothers, babies and you

On Tuesday, August 19, 2014, the MamaYe Advocacy Coalition partnered the Universal Access to Healthcare Campaign to present a 10-Action Point document to the leadership of the Ministry of Health.

Supportive supervision; key in maternal, newborn survival

A Deputy Director of the Family Health Division and head of the Reproductive and Child Health Department of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Aboagye, has urged skilled birth attendants across…

Winning for maternal and newborn health - the AMHiN award for journalists

The Accountability Mechanism for Maternal and Newborn Health (AMHiN) Media Award is for journalists who entered their published stories in the investigative story competition. 2nd edition is now open.

Ebola, mothers and babies: What do we know?

MamaYe is extremely concerned by the 2014 outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. The impact of the virus not only constitutes a health emergency in itself, but places great strain on the health systems of…

Reducing Maternal Deaths in Malawi

On April 6, 2014 Former President of Malawi Dr. Joyce Banda said that her government had done so much to improve the lives of mothers and babies. She said that Malawi has improved in reducing the…

Ghana launches strategy to guide newborn care

The Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, has launched the National Newborn Strategy and Action Plan to guide newborn delivery and care in the country.

No woman, no adolescent, no child left behind

The title of my article today was the communique slogan for the recently concluded third Partners' Forum that took place in Johannesburg.It was arguably rated as one of the most influential…

Be Accountable so Mama can Live - It's time for us to do more

It was midnight after a drive from Dodoma. I should have been sleeping as we were actually waking up at daybreak to continue with our drive to Dar es Salaam.

Among World Cup Countries, Brazil Leads in Saving Children’s Lives!

Will Brazil win the world cup it is hosting? After all, Brazil is leading all the countries playing at the world cup tournament. Although Nigeria has reduced child mortality by 42 percent since 1990…

Newborns deserve our attention now

Each year, 5.5 million babies enter and leave the world without being recorded and one in three newborns—over 45 million babies—do not have a birth certificate by their first birthday. This is the…

The communities acted … but more actions needed to save our babies

I am imagining if I was a community volunteer in a rural setting, what kind of person would I be? Would I be a farmer as well, herder, a tailor? But what’s exciting is that I would be more…

Health is Wealth Right?

a blog: Health is wealth – this means literally, when a person or a people are healthy, they are able to be proactive in their life choices.

Invest in the future: defeat malaria

25 April marks World Malaria Day 2014, an occasion for us all to come together to renew our efforts and energise our commitment in fighting malaria. We want to highlight the importance of greater…

When Ewei’s voice overshadowed her mum’s discomfort

It was two minutes after midday on April 16, 2014 and the Canon EOS 600D camera was never as exciting a companion as it was on this day at the Peki Government Hospital.

Ghana: 1,012 Institutional Maternal Deaths recorded in 2013

Country Director of the Evidence for Action Programme (MamaYe Campaign), Prof. Richard Adanu, has called on the Government and all relevant stakeholders to take serious action following increasing…

MamaYe MNH 'Dictionary': a big step in the right direction!

This speech delivered by a member of the MamaYe Ghana Steering Committee, Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo, at the launch of the first ever Maternal and Newborn Health glossary of terms is presented verbatim…

Are we crossing the bridge to saving lives?

MamaYe Nigeria and MamaYe in London are strengthening the bridge that carries a life saving change for mothers and babies. The bridge is made of evidence-based advocacy, accountability and activists…

INZI + NGOZI - A Story about Respectful Care

At MamaYe we believe that all mothers and their babies deserve respectful care. We also think that midwives, nurses, doctors and other healthworkers are heroes and heroines whose hard work should be…

THE YOUTH OF SALONE STANDS UP FOR CHANGE?

MamaYe decided to implement a 90-day pilot project that will use mobile technology with the help of our corporate partners Africell and African homegrown application Telerivet, to drive messaging and…

When will it be our turn?

The health sector is not one of the prioritised sectors in the Big Results Now programme, for ambitious, transformative results in the short-term. Why not?

What is the real extent of maternal mortality in Ghana?

Last week a very lively training workshop full of the very best data geeks in Ghana and their Evidence for Action (E4A) collaborators set out to try to find the answer. How high - actually - is the…

Working together for our newborns: the Ending Newborn Deaths report

We know that the quality of care available for women needs to improve. That’s why Save the Children has identified this agenda based around essential interventions around birth, that a properly-…

Saving lives of mothers and babies: it is Delta State's turn!

The Delta State government is showing a huge commitment to saving lives of mothers and babies. We need more State governors to show commitment to saving lives.

Making a difference - Meet Biriwa’s cherished TBA

Biriwa is a fishing community situated between Yamoransa and Anomabo in the Central Region. The rocky fishing village sits on the serene shores and stretches across the coastal line.

Mama Afrika Award Alert: Nominate your hero/heroine NOW!

All around Africa, people from all walks of life, including health-workers, decision-makers, community leaders and campaigners, are working for the health of women, babies and children in their…

Expanding territories, MamaYe jigs up Jigawa!

Jigawa State Government, through its Ministry of Health has endorsed the works of MamaYe in the State by supporting the launch of our life-saving activities for mothers and babies. Interesting things…

Because the death of every mother and baby counts

Sometimes working at high levels means you can get things done, but it can also be easy to lapse into thinking in aggregate – just looking at the statistics and the trends. To forget that these are…

Increasing maternal and newborn survival in Ghana

The UNICEF statistics on maternal death as presented the other day by its Deputy Country Director, Madam Rushman Murtaza, are worrying. Speaking at a recent workshop for the Council of Traditional…

MNH Professionals' Society launched in Ghana

For the first time in Ghana, five health professional groups have come together to form a Maternal and Newborn Health Professionals Society. The society is intended to harmonise the national efforts…

Preventing infections at births can save lives

For Sierra Leone to achieve MDGs 4 (reduce child mortality), simple hygiene and umbilical cords cleaning approach by using 7.1% chlorhexidine can prevent thousands of newborns from infection and…

For mothers and babies, Light means Life

A pregnant woman’s survival must not depend on daylight. Help provide light to save another woman, another child’s life. Help provide light to save another woman, another child’s life. Let’s build a…

7000 birthing kits donated to MamaYe for local distribution

October 10 2013. The much-anticipated launch of the MamaYe campaign - a campaign calling for public action to improve maternal and newborn health, kicks off in Kano. The first amazement that greeted…

Being inspired by evidence to take action

Having had a very colourful Mama Ye! launch in Arusha in January, we are busy keeping the momentum going so that lots of Tanzanians can join us to help save our mothers and babies.At the launch, we…

MamaYe Communications/Advocacy teams meet in Accra

MamaYe! Ghana has hosted communications and advocacy activists from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Malawi and Tanzania as part of the international MamaYe Campaign, a multi-year programme, which aims to…

Gone without a trace...

The death of a newborn baby is not a real death, so they say. But this is very unfortunate. When a baby dies and nobody is held accountable, how do we expect to save the next life? This is the story…

A small step, a small act can create BIG Change

Ms. Afrique Montreal winner from Sierra Leone gives back to her home country, Sierra Leone.

How I could have saved a mother's life with my pen

If a report on the number of women and children who die daily in all the local governments of the federation due to leadership negligence can be gathered, the nation should be in perpetual mourning…

Debate continues over the timing of umbilical cord clamping

Birth attendants usually separate the newborn from the placenta by clamping and cutting the umbilical cord, but the timing of this practice varies and has been the subject of on-going debate which…

Ghana drafts Action Plan to end neonatal deaths

Ghana is drafting an action plan that will help end preventable deaths among newborn babies. Dubbed “Every Newborn”, the plan will focus on newborn health and identify actions for improving their…

MamaYe joins NSBS to celebrates World Blood Donor Day 2014

MamaYe in collaboration with National Safe Blood Services celebrated World Blood Donor Day in Makeni on June 14th.

Ten ways to save a million lives

Tackling malnutrition is crucial to accelerating progress in women’s and children’s health. The latest evidence on nutrition and maternal and newborn health has been gathered and summarised by the…

Why Blood Donation Saves Mothers and Babies in Ghana

Read the infographic below to find our why MamaYe Ghana is working to increase awareness and encourage the Ghanaian public to give blood to save a mama or a baby.Join us at the Forecourt of the…

Newborn Health - Surviving the First Day

Joanna Tom Kargbo, Everyone Campaign manager from Save the Children Sierra Leone speaks about the Save the Children organized newborn forum held this afternoon, Wednesday June 12th in freetown.

Traditional Birth Attendants in Sierra Leone

Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) are very popular and influential in rural communities in Sierra Leone. Engaged in community-based non-delivery roles, this network of respected individuals has the…

Who would not act if five planes crashed every day in Tanzania?

Most of us know personally or have heard of a woman who has passed away due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. The tragic truth is that most of these deaths of our Tanzanian mothers and…

Ghana Reflects on efforts to improve MNH

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 marked the 66th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, where 194 Member States attended the annual meeting to discuss activities of the World Health Organisation (WHO)…

Special Care for Babies. A matron goes the extra mile

Matron Isatu Kamara is busy. She is busy ensuring that babies are given a better chance at survival...

Getting to grips with maternal and newborn health

On February 9th E4A - MamaYe organised and trained selected health correspondents across Kano and Jigawa states, as well as Abuja. The training, which involved sixteen health journalists from print,…

A campaign to save Tanzania's mothers and babies

Acting together will result in thousands of mothers and newborns surviving pregnancy and childbirth. That is the conviction of the Mama Ye! campaign.

How Record Keeping Saves Lives

John Sanganme's record-keeping is saving the lives of Bonthe's mothers and babies.