The aim of this programme, which is based in Ghana, is to provide post-discharge neurodevelopmental care services to infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) and perinatal asphyxia (PA).
Neonatal mortality is reducing in low to middle income countries, which is increasing the need for post-discharge developmental services for infants with VLBW and PA. The high burden of preventable neurodevelopment disorders for these infants in Ghana has not been previously evaluated and this one-year programme is looking to determine the current gaps in the quality of post-discharge care as well as the feasibility of improvements and subsequent scale up, despite limited resources.
The main objectives are to:
- describe the burden of neurodevelopmental disorders in infants with PA and VLBW post discharge at KBTH
- explore the feasibility of a multi-disciplinary approach to management of infants post discharge at KBTH
- identify key facilitating factors and barriers to scaling up an integrated package of care for affected infants.
Last year's winner of this annual grant was Angkor Hospital for Children. One of their key achievements so far is the buy-in from stakeholders from support group workers, who have requested additional training, to the Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Councils of Cambodia, which have endorsed the programme. Find out more