Effective visual tool to teach warm chain techniques in MCH facilities

To eliminate newborn hypothermia, JSI/Maternal and Infant Health Project in Ukraine developed a flash video to teach health care providers about warm chain techniques as the level of hypothermia among newborns in Ukrainian maternities was around 60% before the project. After the implementation of effective perinatal care technologies and introduction of flash video in JSI facilities the hypothermia level dropped to virtually 1%.

The video includes 10 basic steps to prevent hypothermia among newborns in maternities outlined in a comprehensive manner. In 2008 WHO-EU integrated the video into IMCI/ICATT computerized training course. At the same time warm chain video is now used in JSI-sister projects in NIS countries, including Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia, having proven to be an effective means to teach health care professionals to combat newborn hypothermia in health care settings. The warm chain flash video is to be officially adopted by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine for routine training activities in MCH health care settings.

John Snow Inc. (USA) is looking for the possibilities of wide dissemination of the flash-video among interested institutions, health care professionals and decision makers to improve birthing outcomes and reduce newborn morbidity and mortality.