“Additional funding would accelerate learning on Dimagi’s scalable model to reduce newborn mortality” by Beth Geoffroy
Description
TL;DR:
We’re testing whether a scalable, digitally-supported, community-based Kangaroo Mother Care model delivered through Dimagi's Connect platform can meaningfully reduce neonatal mortality among small and vulnerable newborns. Early results from Uganda are promising and there is strong interest from local implementers in Nigeria. Marginal funding now would support additional newborns in Uganda, let us expand to Nigeria, and generate the evidence needed to assess key uncertainties to determine whether this model should be scaled widely or be deprioritized.
SUMMARY
- Problem: Neonatal mortality remains high (~2.3M deaths/year globally), and premature and low-birthweight babies account for a large share of preventable deaths. Post-discharge care is especially neglected, with Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) coverage estimated below 5% in many countries.
- Intervention: Structured, verified home visits supporting skin-to-skin care, breastfeeding, thermal regulation, and danger-sign screening. Enrollment typically occurs at facilities, but most care happens at home.
- Platform: Dimagi's Connect digital platform enables local implementers to deliver verified health services at scale (>1M household visits delivered this year by 40+ small local orgs in 12 countries), using a pay-for-performance model that allows rapid replication once an intervention is developed on the platform.
- Why this may scale fast: facility-based KMC requires busy hospital teams [...]
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Outline:
(03:59 ) Additional Background
(04:02 ) Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)
(05:38 ) Connect
(06:46 ) Connect for KMC
(08:39 ) Highlights from Current Pilots
(09:50 ) What Next
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First published:
November 20th, 2025
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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.
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