Recruiting mothers for research: Ugandan midwife Brendah Nambozo

Brendah Nambozo is research midwife based in the Kolonyi district of eastern Uganda. She is part of the BabyGel study, which is using locally sourced sugar cane hygiene gel to see if it reduces newborn infections and deaths. Brenda shares her experience of recruiting mothers. “Last month the research team were devastated when a mother…

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Hidden cost of COVID: keeping life saving research on track

  A hidden cost of COVID-19: knocking life-saving research and solutions off course Every two minutes a woman dies somewhere in the world from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth 94% of all maternal deaths occur in low and lower middle-income countries In 2019, 1 birth in every 16 seconds were stillborn   Two…

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Launch of first ever global maternal & new-born health podcast

The SanyuSisters

Two friends and early career researchers, passionate about global maternal and new-born health have joined together to unite researchers across the world through the first podcast of its kind “SanyuSisters Podcast” The presenters, or sisters, are Dr Teesta Dey and Dr Amber Wilson, both obstetrics trainees in the North West and passionate, enthusiastic early career…

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Abiola Aiyenigba

We were devastated to hear of Abiola’s death this week. Having first come to the University of Liverpool’s Sanyu Research Unit in 2013 not long after it launched, she was an important part of the unit’s development. Doing her PhD part-time meant that she was a constant over 6 years as other short term students…

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Respect in childbirth: speak carefully, words matter

Maternity specialists are being encouraged to change the language they use in front of mothers to have a positive impact on the birth experience. A new video, filmed at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, is promoting better use of language. You can see the full film below. Consultant obstetrician Professor Andrew Weeks said: “Words such as hemorrhage,…

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Invention could save hundreds of thousands of babies’ lives

Andrew Weeks & Kathy Burgoine with the BabySaver Tray in Uganda

Hundreds of thousands of babies’ lives could be saved in developing countries each year thanks to a game-changing invention by a UK doctor in partnership with Ugandan colleagues. The BabySaver, developed by Professor Andrew Weeks, a consultant obstetrician from Liverpool, is a simple plastic unit where babies can be resuscitated without having to separate them…

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Multi-million boost to help halt new born infections

Hands cupping a newborn baby's foot

A study into reducing new born deaths and infections in developing countries has received a €5.9million (£5.2m/$6.7m) boost today to encourage use of a life-saving hygiene gel made from sugar cane. In sub-Saharan Africa, 1 in 12 children will die before their 5th birthday, with infection the most common cause. The European Developing Countries Trials…

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