Kangaroo Mother Care in Uganda: Supporting Every Preterm Baby to Survive and Thrive

Under our campaign Kangaroo Care for Every Preemie, we are working to ensure that no preterm baby in Uganda is left without the care they need after leaving the hospital. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is continuous skin-to-skin contact between a parent and their preterm or low birth weight baby. It is one of the most effective, low-cost, life-saving interventions for premature babies. But in Uganda, only 42% of eligible preterm infants receive consistent KMC after discharge. That’s not because KMC doesn’t work. It’s because families are left alone to figure it out. Why KMC Fails After Hospital Discharge in Uganda Many parents want to continue KMC at home but face real barriers: Limited training and low confidence in practicing KMC Harmful cultural myths and stigma around preterm babies Fathers and male caregivers are often excluded Weak or no follow-up support after discharge Lack of basic resources like proper KMC wraps, privacy, and time Without continued KMC, preterm babies are at higher risk of: Hypothermia Infection Feeding challenges Hospital readmission Death This is not a knowledge problem. It is a support problem. How We Support Parents Practicing Kangaroo Mother Care in Uganda At Preterm Infants Parents Network Uganda, we don’t just educate. We support families every step of the way. We provide: Free KMC wraps to vulnerable families so parents can safely and comfortably carry their babies skin-to-skin Practical training to help parents start and continue KMC with confidence Ongoing guidance after hospital discharge through peer support and follow-up Support for fathers to actively participate in Kangaroo Mother Care Because KMC should not stop at the hospital door. Our Goal: Making KMC the Standard of Care in Uganda We are working to make Kangaroo Mother Care the standard for every preterm baby, from birth through the critical months at home. By 2028, we aim to: Increase consistent KMC practice from 42% to 85% among supported families Train over 500 parents and caregivers as KMC champions Ensure health facilities have access to KMC training tools and wraps Advocate for full integration of KMC into Uganda’s maternal and newborn health systems What We Are Doing: Kangaroo Care for Every Preemie Our campaign focuses on real change through: 1. Awareness and Education We educate families, engage fathers, and challenge harmful myths through community outreach and digital platforms. 2. Access and Support We provide free KMC wraps, create safe spaces for KMC, and connect parents to ongoing support. 3. Policy and Systems Change We advocate for KMC to be fully integrated into national health policies and facility standards. 4. Community Mobilization We empower parents as ambassadors and role models to normalize KMC across communities. Every Preterm Baby Deserves a Chance Kangaroo Mother Care saves lives. But only if families are supported to continue it. Together, we can close the fatal gap between hospital and home