OUR PROGRAMS
“GHC Clean Birth Kits” (CBK’s)
Every minute, a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. 99% of those deaths occur in underresourced countries. 4.5 million infants die each year, again, the majority in developing countries. A leading cause of death among newborns and mothers is infection. Infection rates can improve with a simple $8 Clean Birth Kit that includ
es basic items such as soap, disposable plastic gloves, string, a sterile razor blade, gauze, a clean plastic birthing surface, and antibacterial wipes. A receiving blanket and infant cap are also included, as well as a customized “how-to” pictorial insert. All items fit in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. GHC works with corporations, academic and religious organizations, and others to fund and assemble these kits. Kits are then delivered by trusted partners.
“GHC’s Saving Nigeria’s Mothers & Babies”
The goal of “GHC’s Saving Nigeria’s Mothers & Babies” program is to put into action a sustainable health care training delivery model that will provide lifesaving infant and maternal training to local midwives, traditional birth attendants (TBA’s), and community health education workers (CHEWs) in Nigeria. This model, called “Saving Nigeria’s Mothers & Babies,” will empower local health workers to delivery healthy babies by training them on basic and emergency obstetric care via simulation training. We have chosen to conduct the pilot in Niger State, Nigeria, which is the largest state in the country and located in the North Central zone. We have projected a budget of USD $638k for a six-month pilot program, and are approaching multiple organizations to assist in funding. The First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, is endorsing our proposal, and is in full support. The former CDC Country Director of Nigeria, Dr. Okey Nwanyanwu, will serve as GHC’s program director, once funded. One of the training modules will include Helping Babies Breathe (HBB), an initiative of The American Academy of Pediatrics, USAID, Saving Newborn Lives/Save the Children, WHO, Laerdal, and many other partners. Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) is a neonatal resuscitation curriculum centered around The Golden Minute. Within one minute of birth, a baby should be breathing well or should be ventilated with a bag and mask. The Golden Minute identifies the steps that a birth attendant must take immediately after birth to evaluate the baby and stimulate breathing. The Helping Babies Breathe objective is to have at least one person who is skilled in neonatal resuscitation at the birth of every baby.
