Every Breath Counts
A Practical NICU Handbook Saving Newborn Lives Across Africa
A practical neonatal care manual developed from real-world experience caring for critically ill newborns in resource-limited hospitals.
The Every Breath Counts Handbook was developed by Dr. Steve Swanson and the neonatal team in Arusha, Tanzania to share proven protocols for caring for premature and critically ill newborns in low-resource settings.
This practical reference guide equips physicians and nurses with essential knowledge in neonatal care, drug dosing, and NICU procedures—helping hospitals across Africa improve survival for their most vulnerable patients.
The Challenge
Across sub-Saharan Africa, newborn mortality remains high, often due to lack of training, standardized protocols, and accessible clinical resources.
Our Experience
Through more than a decade of work developing a model NICU in Tanzania, the ICHA team learned that high survival rates are possible even in low-resource settings using practical, evidence-based care strategies.
The handbook captures these lessons so other hospitals can apply them.
The Every Breath Counts Handbook was developed by Dr. Steve Swanson and the neonatal team in Arusha, Tanzania to share proven protocols for caring for premature and critically ill newborns in low-resource settings.
This practical reference guide equips physicians and nurses with essential knowledge in neonatal care, drug dosing, and NICU procedures—helping hospitals across Africa improve survival for their most vulnerable patients.
The Challenge
Across sub-Saharan Africa, newborn mortality remains high, often due to lack of training, standardized protocols, and accessible clinical resources.
Our Experience
Through more than a decade of work developing a model NICU in Tanzania, the ICHA team learned that high survival rates are possible even in low-resource settings using practical, evidence-based care strategies.
The handbook captures these lessons so other hospitals can apply them.
Inside the Every Breath Counts Handbook
- Practical NICU protocols for newborn care
- Drug dosing reference for neonates
- Guidance on respiratory support and oxygen therapy
- Feeding and nutrition strategies for premature infants
- Infection prevention and control
- Thermoregulation and kangaroo mother care
- Clinical decision-making tools for physicians and nurses
Used Across Africa
- Distributed to nearly 250 hospitals
- Used in 25 African countries
- Provided to participants of the Tiny Feet Big Steps Neonatology Conference
Part of a Larger Mission
The handbook complements the Tiny Feet Big Steps Neonatology Conferences, where physicians and nurses from across Africa receive hands-on training in neonatal care. Participants receive the handbook as a reference to implement what they learn when they return to their hospitals.
Request a Copy
If you would like to:
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- Purchase the handbook
- Request copies for your hospital or training program
- Learn about distribution partnerships
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Expanding Access Through Digital Technology
The Every Breath Counts Handbook has already reached hundreds of hospitals across Africa in printed form. But we know that many clinicians still lack access to reliable neonatal reference materials when they need them most. To address this need, the team at Institute for Child Healthcare Africa is actively exploring ways to make the handbook available in a digital format. A mobile and digital version would allow physicians and nurses to quickly access neonatal protocols, drug dosing information, and clinical guidance directly from their phones or computers.
Making the handbook digital would help us:
Our goal is to make the lifesaving knowledge in the Every Breath Counts Handbook as accessible as possible to healthcare providers caring for newborns in resource-limited settings.
If you are interested in partnering with us to help expand digital access, we would welcome the opportunity to connect. Please email us: [email protected]
Making the handbook digital would help us:
- Reach thousands more clinicians across Africa and Asia
- Provide instant updates as neonatal care evolves
- Ensure critical information is available at the bedside whenever it is needed
Our goal is to make the lifesaving knowledge in the Every Breath Counts Handbook as accessible as possible to healthcare providers caring for newborns in resource-limited settings.
If you are interested in partnering with us to help expand digital access, we would welcome the opportunity to connect. Please email us: [email protected]
