Kangaroo Mother Care - club meeting with presentation by member Geta

20th March 2024

At our club meeting last Saturday, Geta spoke about her work in neonatal care and a project to support mothers and new babies in Ukraine.

Club member Geta has worked in neonatal care, specifically baby positioning and related education for 18 years. From Moldova and now based in the Netherlands, she conducted a clinical study in Tanzania in 2020/21 that demonstrated the benefits of kangaroo care, and also the benefits of carriers that are easy for mothers to use while dealing with the stresses of supporting premature babies and having to stay in hospital.

She was approached in December 2022 by the International Rotary Fellowship of Healthcare Professionals to work with a team on a project to provide kangaroo mother care for mothers and babies in Ukraine.

In November 2023, the first five hospitals in Ukraine received packs of baby carriers, delivered with training from a non-profit partner organisation based in Moldova and Ukraine. The second batch was delivered at New Year, and third batch is due to be sent very soon.

“I believe this is a project that has immeasurable impact, both on the survival, but also the wellbeing of babies and mothers"