Newborn health initiatives in NGO sector

In India many non-profit, voluntary, non-government organizations (NGOs) are working amongst marginalized, poor population in remote villages and crowded urban slums, and have demonstrated the possibility of sustained and considerable reduction of neonatal mortality and morbidity by shifting the focus to integrated Maternal and Newborn Healthcare (MNH) rather than a diluted approach of Maternal and Child Health care (MCH). Initiatives by these NGOs include advocacy for newborn care, capacity building of local traditional birth attendants for safe delivery and childbirth, effective package of home-based newborn care and promotion of primary newborn care as Essential Newborn Care (ENBC). In addition these organizations have created fresh human resources for newborn care in the form of Village Health Workers (VHW) or volunteers and similar link workers or change agents and demonstrated their potential. Other initiatives have been developing database through verbal autopsy or other suitable reporting system, production and distribution of Disposable Delivery Kits (DDK) and training and health education material, developing initiatives for the care of newborns in urban slums, providing level II services for newborn care, innovations of simple tools and equipment, promotion of proper breast feeding and lactation management, emergency transport system and others.