Transforming Newborn Care
USAID Integrated Health Program Establishes Special Care Baby Units in 40 Health Facilities Across Nigeria
The chances of survival from birth vary widely depending on where a child is born. Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest neonatal mortality rate in 2020 at 27 deaths per 1000 live births (DHIS2018).
Despite improvements in the under-5 mortality rate, the neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria had a mild decline from 48 deaths per 1000 live births in 2003 to 34.9 deaths per 1000 live births in 2021 (UNICEF, 2023). Many health care facilities in Nigeria do not have the capacity to care for sick newborns, due to lack of proper equipment, skilled health workers, and proper infrastructure which has resulted in higher rates of child and newborn mortality.
One proven intervention to reduce the number of child and newborn deaths is the establishment of a Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) within a health facility. Each SCBU is tailored to the needs of the specific health facility, but generally includes equipment like incubators, ventilators, and monitoring devices. The establishment of a SCBU is often paired with additional training and mentoring for health facility staff on using the equipment and identifying and treating diseases in newborns and children.
The USAID Integrated Health Program (USAID-IHP) recognized the potential of establishing SCBU’s to reduce newborn and child mortality and jumped in to provide the necessary support to set up a total of 40 SCBU’s in health facilities across four states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At the Mater Hospital in Ebonyi State, baby Egwu Elizabeth was born with low birth weight, asphyxia, and jaundice, and her mother was worried that she would not survive. Mrs. Ali Ngozi, a health worker trained by USAID-IHP on comprehensive care, reassured Mrs. Egwu Elizabeth that her baby would have the best care possible with the support from USAID-IHP.
“The machines were helpful. They supported the stabilization of my baby even when I had no hope the Officer in charge reassured me that everything would be fine. I am happy today that baby Elizabeth is strong and healthy,” said Mrs. Egwu Elizabeth, mother of baby Elizabeth.
Baby Elizabeth went home two weeks later after gaining a healthy amount of weight and recovering from her other health conditions.
“We are happy that baby Egwu Elizabeth is discharged and doing well; if not for the technologies that were supplied to Mater Hospital by USAID, it would have been difficult for the baby to survive. Thanks to USAID, they have helped in decreasing neonatal deaths in our hospital and Ebonyi State,” said Ali Ngozi, Officer in Charge, Newborn Care Unit, Mater Hospital.
Prior to the implementation of the SCBU centres, Kebbi State faced significant challenges in reducing child mortality rates, particularly among newborns.
USAID-IHP, in collaboration with stakeholders in Kebbi, established SCBU’s within 12 general hospitals, successfully integrating high-quality specialized neonatal care into the broader healthcare system by providing the necessary training and equipment to support small and sick newborns.
At the Argungu General Hospital Argungu in Kebbi, the officer of the SCBU unit, Nurse Farida Aliyu, expressed her delight over what she described as “live-saving support.”
“We appreciate USAID-IHP’s efforts,” said Nurse Aliyu. “I’m happy to inform you that this resulted in the successful resuscitation of over 10 newborns within a month, preventing potential loss of life.”
In the FCT, IHP equipped 3 secondary facilities with equipment and training to provide quality preventive and curative care needed for the management of small and sick newborns. To ensure long term use of the state of arts equipment, IHP trained the biomedical engineers in the various secondary healthcare facilities to maintain and service the equipment donated to SBCUs by IHP.
Dr. Christiana Udube, Doctor of Pediatrics at Gwarinpa General Hospital in the FCT said, “I am excited to say that since we resumed admissions after the makeover of the SBCU, it has been 4 months and we have recorded 0 neonatal deaths in the unit.”
As a result of IHP’s concerted efforts, SCBU centres have become a beacon of hope for families in IHP-supported states in Nigeria. Infants who previously faced insurmountable odds now find refuge within these centres, where their lives are safeguarded with comprehensive care and personalized attention. Professional and compassionate healthcare providers work tirelessly to stabilize and nurture fragile infants by employing evidence-based protocols and diagnostic tools to closely monitor their progress.
As these centres serve as hubs of specialized care, they have forged strong collaboration with surrounding health facilities, encouraging information sharing, referrals, and knowledge transfer. This holistic approach has augmented the overall quality of care provided throughout the healthcare system in Nigeria, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and innovation.
About the Authors
Faruk Nanoh Bello is a Knowledge Management Manager for the USAID Integrated Health Program in the Abuja Central Office; Mdevaan Nyitor is a Knowledge Management Manager for the USAID Integrated Health Program in the FCT; Stephen Uchenna is a Knowledge Management Manager for the USAID Integrated Health Program in Ebonyi State; Mark Faeren Hirekaan is a Communications Officer for the USAID Integrated Health Program.
