The Ifakara Health Institute stood united with families, healthcare professionals, and organizations worldwide in observing World Prematurity Day 2024. This day is a moment to honor the resilience of premature infants and their families while celebrating the strides in healthcare that improve survival rates and quality of life for these vulnerable newborns.

World Prematurity Day, observed annually on 17 November, highlights the challenges of preterm birth, affecting over 13 million babies globally each year. The theme for 2024, “Over 13 million babies born too soon every year. Access to quality care everywhere!”, underscores the urgent need for equitable, high-quality newborn care worldwide.

NEST360: Pushing the Theme Forward

The Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) program, implemented in Tanzania by the Ifakara Health Institute and partners, is at the forefront of this mission. Aligned with this year’s theme, NEST360 works tirelessly to expand access to quality care for preterm and newborn babies in hospitals across Tanzania and other African nations, including Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria.

NEST360 is a global consortium committed to reducing newborn deaths by 50% in hospitals through a sustainable, evidence-based model of health system transformation. By bridging gaps in technology, human resources, and market access, the program is creating long-term solutions for neonatal care.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health, NEST360 has significantly enhanced comprehensive newborn care units (CNCUs) across Tanzania. Phase 1 of the program from 2019–2022 established CNCUs in three tertiary hospitals—Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH Upanga), MNH Mloganzila, and Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital—and expanded to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) and Dar es Salaam's three regional referral hospitals: Mwananyamala, Amana, and Temeke. 

Building skills 

NEST360 has developed comprehensive training programs to equip healthcare providers and biomedical technicians with the skills needed to deliver and sustain high-quality newborn care. These rigorous, one-week programs combine theory, hands-on application, assessment, and certification. By fostering collaboration among clinicians, nurses, biomedical engineers, and technicians, the training breaks professional silos and builds cohesive teams.

To date, more than 500 clinicians and 400 biomedical engineers have been trained, ensuring they are proficient in using, maintaining, and repairing life-saving equipment. Participants include professionals from implementing hospitals, medical training colleges, and teaching institutions, creating a ripple effect of expertise nationwide. To date, over 400 biomedical engineers and 500 clinicians have been trained.

Investing in infrastructure
To sustain these advancements, NEST360 has established state-of-the-art skills labs at Muhimbili National Hospital, the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Zanzibar’s Karume Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), and Lumumba Hospital in Zanzibar. 

These labs are equipped with cutting-edge technologies that align with Tanzania’s newborn care guidelines, providing healthcare workers with opportunities to practice and refine their skills in a controlled, realistic environment.

By commemorating World Prematurity Day 2024, NEST360 reaffirms its commitment to closing the care gap and saving newborn lives through innovation, collaboration, and dedication. Together, we work toward a future where every preterm baby has a fighting chance, no matter where they are born.