Some mothers in Senegal are learning a new way to save the lives of babies born too soon.
Some
mothers
in
Senegal
are
learning
a
new
way
to
save
the
lives
of
babies
born
too
soon
.
The idea is borrowed from the way mother kangaroos carry their young in front in a pouch.
The
idea
is
borrowed
from
the
way
mother
kangaroos
carry
their
young
in
front
in
a
pouch
.
The baby kangaroo stays in this built-in baby carrier until it can survive independently.
The
baby
kangaroo
stays
in
this
built-in
baby
carrier
until
it
can
survive
independently
.
Kangaroo mother care is also known as the skin-to-skin method for premature babies.
Kangaroo
mother
care
is
also
known
as
the
skin-to-skin
method
for
premature
babies
.
The direct contact with the mother keeps the baby warm.
The
direct
contact
with
the
mother
keeps
the
baby
warm
.
It also lets the baby breastfeed at any time.
It
also
lets
the
baby
breastfeed
at
any
time
.
The mother's heartbeat also helps control the baby's breathing rate.
The
mother
's
heartbeat
also
helps
control
the
baby
's
breathing
rate
.
Every year, seven thousand babies are born at the health center where Ousmane Ndiaye works in Guediaway, outside Dakar.
Every
year
,
seven
thousand
babies
are
born
at
the
health
center
where
Ousmane
Ndiaye
works
in
Guediaway
,
outside
Dakar
.
One in five is underweight.
One
in
five
is
underweight
.
But Senegal has few incubators in which to keep premature babies warm.
But
Senegal
has
few
incubators
in
which
to
keep
premature
babies
warm
.
In Africa, one newborn in twenty dies.
In
Africa
,
one
newborn
in
twenty
dies
.
A major reason is prematurity, so the death rates are among the highest in the world.
A
major
reason
is
prematurity
,
so
the
death
rates
are
among
the
highest
in
the
world
.
Doctor Ndiaye says babies who weigh less than two kilos get special attention from midwives who assist with the births.
Doctor
Ndiaye
says
babies
who
weigh
less
than
two
kilos
get
special
attention
from
midwives
who
assist
with
the
births
.
They teach the mother how to keep the baby wrapped to her chest.
They
teach
the
mother
how
to
keep
the
baby
wrapped
to
her
chest
.
The health center has a Kangaroo Clinic, a special area for teaching this method.
The
health
center
has
a
Kangaroo
Clinic
,
a
special
area
for
teaching
this
method
.
Doctor Ndiaye says they plan to expand the program throughout Senegal.
Doctor
Ndiaye
says
they
plan
to
expand
the
program
throughout
Senegal
.
But he believes the best way to get more people to use the kangaroo method is for mothers who have used the method to tell others about it.
But
he
believes
the
best
way
to
get
more
people
to
use
the
kangaroo
method
is
for
mothers
who
have
used
the
method
to
tell
others
about
it
.
Some mothers in Senegal are learning a new way to save the lives of babies born too soon. The idea is borrowed from the way mother kangaroos carry their young in front in a pouch. The baby kangaroo stays in this built-in baby carrier until it can survive independently.  Kangaroo mother care is also known as the skin-to-skin method for premature babies. The direct contact with the mother keeps the baby warm. It also lets the baby breastfeed at any time. The mother's heartbeat also helps control the baby's breathing rate.  Every year, seven thousand babies are born at the health center where Ousmane Ndiaye works in Guediaway, outside Dakar. One in five is underweight. But Senegal has few incubators in which to keep premature babies warm. In Africa, one newborn in twenty dies. A major reason is prematurity, so the death rates are among the highest in the world.  Doctor Ndiaye says babies who weigh less than two kilos get special attention from midwives who assist with the births. They teach the mother how to keep the baby wrapped to her chest. The health center has a Kangaroo Clinic, a special area for teaching this method.  Doctor Ndiaye says they plan to expand the program throughout Senegal. But he believes the best way to get more people to use the kangaroo method is for mothers who have used the method to tell others about it.