Kangaroo care programme offers lifeline to Gaza's premature infants

Healthcare workers at Nasser Hospital have launched a kangaroo mother care programme to address the acute challenges facing premature and low-birth-weight infants in Gaza. The intervention, which emphasizes direct skin-to-skin contact between mother and child, has become an essential tool for medical staff working under significant resource limitations.

Kangaroo care, recognised internationally as an evidence-based practice, helps regulate an infant's body temperature, heart rate, and breathing while strengthening the maternal-infant bond. The technique requires minimal medical equipment, making it particularly suitable for healthcare facilities facing constraints in supply chains and infrastructure.

Staff at the hospital have trained mothers to participate actively in their infants' care, positioning newborns against their skin for extended periods throughout the day. This engagement has proven beneficial not only for physical development but also for maternal psychological well-being during a period marked by widespread hardship.

The pilot programme represents an adaptation of global best practices to local circumstances, enabling medical teams to provide enhanced neonatal care despite prevailing challenges. Healthcare administrators have indicated the approach offers a sustainable model for improving outcomes among the hospital's most vulnerable patient population.