Launch of the interim version

The World Health Organization in collaboration with partners are developing the second edition of the Essential Newborn Care Course (ENCC). The material provides the foundation for the essential care of every newborn: immediate care at birth, resuscitation when needed, breast milk feeding, thermal care, prevention of infection, recognition and response to danger signs. This course is part of a set of WHO resources for improving care of newborns; Human Resource Strategies to improve newborn care in health facilities in low- and middle-income countries, Standards for improving quality of maternal and newborn care in health facilities and the Standards for improving the quality of care for small and sick newborns in health facilities.

WHO, UNICEF and partners were able to conduct only limited field testing with users, prior to release of this interim version, due to travel and meeting restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this version is released for field testing in various settings, countries and regions in order to finalize and publish the 2nd edition of ENCC in 2022.

The ENCC materials can be accessed on WHO website.

Session plan:

Welcome and Introduction: Dr Rajiv Bahl, Newborn Health Unit Head, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing, WHO Geneva

Part 1:

Opening remarks and official launch of the ENCC materials: Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing, WHO Geneva

Overview of the ENCC course: What's new? Dr Teshome Desta, Medical Officer, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing, WHO Geneva

Brief remarks:

  • Mr Tore Laerdal, Laerdal Global Health
  • Dr Beena Kamath-Rayne, American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Dr Marzia Lazzerini, WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Trieste

Questions & Answers

Part 2:

Panel discussion

  • Dr John Ovuoraye, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria
  • Dr Queen Dube, Ministry of Health, Malawi
  • Dr Tedbabe Degefie Hailegabriel, UNICEF HQ
  • Dr Leah Greenspan, USAID
  • Dr William Keenan, International Pediatric Association
  • Dr Marsha Campbell-Yeo, Council of International Neonatal Nurses
  • Ms Erin Ryan, International Confederation of Midwives
  • Ms Mona Tamannai, Médecins Sans Frontières
  • Ms Janet Meyers, Save the Children

Closing remarks: Dr Teshome Desta, WHO

© UNICEF/UN0507468/Dejongh

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