OUR MISSION

Advancing Neonatal Care in Africa

Neonatal mortality accounts for nearly half of under-5 mortality worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing the highest burden. Prematurity and its complications stand as the primary cause of death during the first month of life. Despite comprising only 3% of annual mortality globally, neonatal deaths in many African nations exceed 10%, remaining the leading cause of death regardless of age or gender. In a continent with over 1.3 billion people, Africa faces significant disparities in access to specialized neonatal care.

In response to this critical need, the Tiny Feet, Big Steps (TFBS) Neonatology Conference was inaugurated in 2021. It emerged to meet the escalating demand for evidence-based neonatology training, focusing on low-cost, low-tech interventions to enhance the survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes of premature and critically ill newborns in East Africa. Rooted in the success story of achieving a NICU survival rate exceeding 92%, the TFBS Neonatology Conference has rapidly evolved into one of the largest clinical neonatology gatherings in Africa. This growth is fueled by collaboration with both local and international stakeholders, cementing its position as a beacon of advancement in neonatal care.

​ICHA's experience in advancing neonatology has been drawn from the work of Dr Swanson and the NICU team at the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC), where evidence-based, innovative models and protocols of neonatal care appropriate for limited income settings have been practiced and improved.

​At the "Tiny Feet, Big Steps" Neonatology Conference, every lecture and workshop is tailored to address the unique challenges encountered within African healthcare settings. Through interactive, hands-on skills workshops, attendees gain practical insights and solutions that can be immediately applied in their clinical practice.

With over 90 lectures and advanced skills workshops offered at TFBS 2024, participants received comprehensive education from a diverse range of subspecialties, including neonatology, pediatrics, pediatric cardiology, pediatric infectious diseases, pediatric neurosurgery, neurodevelopment, nutrition, physiotherapy, pediatric surgery, and intensive care nursing.

Moreover, the conference banquet served as a platform for NICU teams to exchange innovations and improvements implemented from previous TFBS conferences and hospitals' quality improvement initiatives. This real-world application underscores the practical impact of the knowledge gained through these annual neonatology conferences.

Conference Participants by Year 

Equipping Attendees:
The 'Every Breath Counts' Handbook

To complement the conference's educational endeavors, attendees are provided with the locally published handbook titled "Every Breath Counts, Manual of Neonatal Care & Drug Doses 2nd Edition." Authored by Dr. Swanson and his team, this handbook furnishes foundational protocols to conference participants, further enriching their learning experience.

Gifts of Care

In a setting where "every breath counts, no matter how small," a dedicated and compassionate NICU team saves the life of a tiny baby girl and gifts a miracle to her family.

Small Details Matter

The participation of the whole family in the healthcare and wellness of tiny babies is important for their growth in the journey from surviving to thriving. Those tiny feet make big steps when small details matter.

Miracles Do Happen

A 25-week preterm baby who survived during a time when ALMC NICU was pioneering new interventions for small babies in Tanzania.

Tiny Miracles

​The babies that survive because of the NICU at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (Tanzania) are tiny miracles.