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In this episode, Dr. Stephen Swanson shares his journey of establishing a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Arusha, Tanzania. He emphasizes the importance of addressing medical culture and involving nurses, doctors, and families in the care of critically ill and premature babies. Dr. Swanson highlights the success of a low-tech approach, including the use of blended, warmed, and humidified CPAP, and the importance of attention to detail, thermal regulation, respiratory support, nutrition, and infection prevention. He also discusses the challenges of relying on donated equipment and the need for innovative biomedical engineering solutions. 

 Dr. Swanson also highlights the need for appropriate training and skill development for healthcare providers, as well as the importance of collaboration and sharing of best practices. He shares his experience in organizing the Tiny Feet Big Steps African Neonatology Conference, which aims to provide practical skills and knowledge to healthcare professionals in Africa. Dr. Swanson also discusses his vision for the Institute for Child Healthcare Africa, which aims to promote quality pediatric care and build a mother and child hospital in Tanzania.

 

Resources mentioned in episode: 

Tiny Feet Big Steps conference: https://tinyfeetbigsteps.com/

Institute for Child Healthcare (ICHA): https://www.tanzanianchildren.com/

Every Breath Counts: Lessons Learned in developing a training NICU in Northern Tanzania: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.958628/full

 

Contact: [email protected] 

Episode Webpage Link: https://www.the-incubator.org/post/225-low-tech-high-impact-caring-for-neonates-in-arusha-tanzania-ft-dr-stephen-swanson 

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!