How to prevent African mothers and newborns from dying

Clean Hospitals Save Lives: A Critical Call to Protect African Mothers and Newborns

By Dr. Jay K. Varma and Dr. Yewande Alimi
Originally published in Think Global Health on July 25, 2023

Despite decades of progress in maternal and child health across Africa, too many newborns are still dying from preventable infections—and not due to lack of access, but because the care they receive isn’t safe enough.

In this co-authored essay for Think Global Health, Dr. Jay Varma and Dr. Yewande Alimi sound the alarm on a neglected but solvable crisis: hospital-acquired infections in maternity wards. These infections are now a leading cause of newborn death in many African countries, often striking babies whose mothers delivered in facilities meant to protect them.

“Hospitals are not inherently sanitary places,” the authors write. “Without clean water, sterilized equipment, and trained infection control staff, they can do more harm than good.”

The Numbers Tell a Stark Story:

• 72 per 1,000 African newborns die before age one—20 times the rate in Europe.
• Over half of hospitals in Africa lack adequate drinking water.
• In some settings, up to 28% of hospitalized newborns develop life-threatening infections.

The Path Forward Is Clear:

1. Invest in Infection Control Programs
   • Every facility needs a full-time infection control lead, training programs, and outbreak response plans.
2. Upgrade Basic Infrastructure
   • Ensure clean water, functioning handwashing stations, safe waste disposal, and proper air circulation.
3. View Safety as an Investment, Not a Cost
   • Reducing infections protects patients, saves health workers, and builds public trust in healthcare.

This article urges African governments, global donors, and civil society to act boldly—and sustainably—to implement WHO and Africa CDC standards. As Varma and Alimi remind readers: “The oath that doctors profess—first, do no harm—also applies to hospitals.”

📖 Read the full article on Think Global Health:
👉 How to Prevent African Mothers and Newborns From Dying