Training Enhances Neonatal Care in Central African Republic

At the Pediatric University Hospital Center of Bangui (CHUPB) in the Central African Republic (CAR), the soft echo of newborn cries blends with the whispers of caregivers. Here, every breath is a victory, every heartbeat a miracle. Like other countries in the region, maternal and neonatal mortality rates are high, and far too many infants require the special care of the neonatal department at CHUPB.

Nearly two-thirds of global maternal deaths now occur in countries affected by fragility or conflict. The highest risks for maternal deaths are in CAR and Chad. In these countries, a 15-year-old girl faces a 1 in 51 risk of dying from a maternal cause in her lifetime compared to 1 in 593 in more stable countries.

Maternal and newborn deaths can be reduced by strengthening health systems and training the health workers who are dedicated to their patients. With funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, UNICEF aims to reduce maternal and newborn mortality in CAR, Haiti, Mali and Mozambique. The partnership is strengthening national health systems by procuring equipment, enhancing health infrastructure and building health worker capacity to deliver essential maternal, newborn and child health services.

A call to care for one community health worker

With 20 years’ experience as a nurse, eight of which she has dedicated to neonatology at CHUPB, Edith Florence Bangué tirelessly tends to the babies brought in for consultations. Today, she plays an essential role at the center, but her call to caregiving began long before she wore a nurse’s uniform.

“At 12 years old, I witnessed the birth of a younger sibling at home. My grandmother handed me the newborn and, in that moment, I knew that I, too, wanted to care for babies,” explains Edith.

Eventually, Edith became a community health worker who gives the smallest and most fragile children a chance to thrive. In her department, she receives the most vulnerable infants: babies born prematurely, with low birthweight or who require specialized care. Their skin is delicate, their veins nearly invisible to the naked eye. Every movement Edith makes is precise, careful and filled with infinite gentleness.

Minimizing maternal and infant mortality

Edith remembers darker days when the medical teams were overwhelmed by helplessness and distressed parents blamed the staff for failing to save the lives of their children.

“This is a delicate department. We’ve had difficult moments, including times when we failed to resuscitate babies,” Edith recalls. "Today, thanks to training, things are much better.”

One key training Edith attended was part of "Acceleration of Integrated Healthcare for Mothers, Newborns, and Children," a project supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and UNICEF. The program exemplifies UNICEF and the Church’s collaboration to strengthen health systems and decrease maternal and infant mortality in CAR, Haiti, Mali and Mozambique as part of their commitment to helping vulnerable mothers and children around the world.

Through the program, Edith learned essential skills in Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care, as well as the kangaroo method of skin-to-skin contact which is beneficial for premature babies. This training also sharpened her ability to quickly identify newborns in distress, a skill she applies vigilantly, much to the satisfaction of her supervisor, Dr. Carine Kiteze, head of the neonatology department.

Dr. Kiteze acknowledges the training’s impact. “I selected Edith for this training because as a nurse she plays a key role in neonatology. She is the one who identifies newborns in distress, contributes to training new staff and ensures continuity of care. Since the training, the quality of care has improved.” This recognition has only strengthened Edith’s determination.

CHUPB handles an average of 15 consultations per day, with about four examined children requiring hospitalization. Each child represents a promise for the future.

Among the many stories she holds dear in her heart, there is one that stands out for Edith – the story of a newborn girl weighing just 1.98 pounds. Her life was hanging by a thread. For a month, she remained under neonatal care. By the time she was discharged, she weighed 2.64 pounds — strong enough to go home. Today, she is a healthy little girl, ready to start preschool.

Mothers deeply appreciate Edith’s care, for example, Raïssa, a young mother who brought her three-week-old daughter, Euphrasie, for a checkup. A week earlier, she had noticed her baby looking very pale and rushed her to the center for treatment. Returning for a follow-up appointment, she was relieved to see Edith again.

“Edith is welcoming. She took care of my daughter last week and reassured me. I’m happy to see her again today,” Raïssa says.

Edith also eagerly shares her knowledge with her colleagues, interns and students who come to train at the hospital. In the future, she hopes to become an anesthetist, so she can further support mothers and babies.

Skilled health workers strengthen health systems

UNICEF and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have invested $10 million across CAR, Haiti, Mali and Mozambique to strengthen health systems and skill health workers to deliver essential maternal, newborn and child health services for the most vulnerable women and children. Thanks to this support, institutions save lives every day, families find relief and health care professionals gain expertise.

Providing Edith and her peers with comprehensive training marks another critical step toward a future in which every newborn has a chance to live a happy, healthy life.

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