title: The development and implementation of a newborn medicine program in a resource-limited setting.
abstract: The reduction in global neonatal mortality rates remains a challenge. Internationally recognized protocols for hospital care of sick and small newborns are limited, although this specialized area lends itself to standardization. An interdisciplinary team including international and local clinical experts worked with the Rwandan Ministry of Health and Rwandan professional associations to develop and implement a neonatal care program in a rural Rwandan district hospital that was ultimately accepted as the national standard for newborn medicine. Successful features and challenges are discussed. It is realistic to develop, implement and disseminate neonatal protocols for sick newborns.
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA ; Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA ; Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Kigali, Rwanda.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Magge
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care, Nursing Patient Services, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labrecque
authors.affiliation: Rwanda Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda.
authors.forename: R B M
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Munyaneza
authors.affiliation: Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Kigali, Rwanda.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nahimana
authors.affiliation: Rwanda Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyishime
authors.affiliation: Rwanda Family Health Project, Kigali, Rwanda.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mwali
keywords: global health; implementation; newborn medicine