Though HIV can be transmitted from mother to child through breast milk, studies have shown that women living with HIV are less likely to pass the virus if they breast-feed their babies exclusively for at least four months. Breast milk contains nutrients and essential antibodies that can help babies fend off dangerous infections. The Kamwimbi family in Kenya, where EGPAF and … [Read more...] about Teaching New Mothers Living with HIV about the Importance of Breast-feeding
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Backpacks That Save Lives? You Bet!
Summer is winding down. Store shelves are stocked with notebooks and pencils instead of sunscreen and beach balls. And for most kids, the essential back-to-school purchase is the almighty backpack. If you're going to carry books and lunch to school, you'd better have something durable -- and fashionable! -- strapped on your shoulders. You may be surprised to learn that a … [Read more...] about Backpacks That Save Lives? You Bet!
How To Inspire Courage, Spur Action And Save Lives
April and early May are bookended by World Health Worker Week (April 7-11) and International Day of the Midwife (May 5) -- two opportunities to recognize the invaluable contributions of health workers in saving and bettering the lives of our communities. The women and men who have been on my mind are the innumerable hard-working, selfless, often heroic frontline health workers … [Read more...] about How To Inspire Courage, Spur Action And Save Lives
Improved Data on Community Health Workers Critical to Achieving Global Health Goals
Cape Town, South Africa, September 29, 2014 – A new report finds that developing nations’ ability to deal with pressing health challenges like HIV/AIDS and ensuring maternal and newborn survival will be strengthened by creating a common definition for community health workers, as well as a core set of skills and competencies that would help ensure they are optimally trained, … [Read more...] about Improved Data on Community Health Workers Critical to Achieving Global Health Goals
Counting Community Health Workers “Counts”
CONARKY, Guinea – How many community health workers (CHWs) are there? What are community health workers’ tasks? How can we more efficiently integrate CHWs into national health systems? Global public health leaders widely acknowledge that there are not enough health workers in the world. Tragically, this fact has been further highlighted by current state of the Ebola epidemic … [Read more...] about Counting Community Health Workers “Counts”