The ”kangaroo method”(KM) allows the constant nursing of a baby, skin to skin on the mother or father’s chest, as a means of treating low birth weight (LBW) babies. It is effective and easy to apply, and promotes the health and wellbeing of premature babies.

 In the context of hospitals without incubators or equipment to take care of LBW babies, the human body replaces the incubators an alternative heat source . Thus, premature babies remain at all times with the mother, father, or family member, like a baby kangaroo that completes its maturity through skin to skin contact, with the mother.
 

USAID/Paraguay, through its Comprehensive Program for Maternal and Child Health (MCHIP), is providing training to health care providers to implement this method. The first stage will be in the San Pablo Hospital in Asunción, and then in September, in the Regional Hospital of Ciudad del Este. The program will later install the method in the  of network f services in the countryside.
 

With this technique public institutions are spared the high costs of newborn care equipment, and diminish the risk of infection and disease that can endanger the lives of children.

Main characteristics of the KM :
• Early, continuous and prolonged skin to skin contact between mother and baby;
• Exclusive breastfeeding;
• It begins in the hospital and can be continued at home;
• Young babies can be discharged in the short term;
• Mothers who are at home need support from her husband and family as well as adequate monitoring;
• The KM has shown to effectively control impacts on temperature, breastfeeding, and bonding development in all babies, regardless of their environment, weight, gestational age and clinical situation.

USAID/Paraguay, in alliance JHPIEGO, is supporting the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare to implement the Kangaroo Method, in public facilities. definea strategy for prenatal care,  and initiate a series of  training workshops for health providers. The first workshop starts on Wednesday, August 10 at the San Pablo Hospital in Asunción.

Authorities attending the opening: Deputy Director of USAID/Paraguay, Steve Hendrix, Dr. Elke Strubing and Dr. Mercedes Portillo from the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincente Battaglia and Mrs. Jhalily Hermosilla from MCHIP, Dr. Vicente Acuña, Director of the San Pablo Hospital, and Dr. Amada Rodriguez, Medical Officer.
 

Media related articles on the event, in Paraguayan newspapers:

http://www.abc.com.py/nota/promueven-mama-canguro/

http://www.ultimahora.com/notas/453366-Mamas-canguro-sustituiran-a-las-incubadoras-para-bebes

Asunción, August 9, 2011