Main problem

Data shows that out of 1000 live births in Nepal, 22 do not make it through the first few days. A factor that contributes to this high infant mortality rate is hypothermia, a condition in which an infant loses its body’s heat rapidly. Traditional methods to warm the baby like electric heaters, heat from filament bulbs and burning coals pose significant threat to the child as basic hygiene, risk of electrical shock and polluted air remains unnoticed. A majority of babies who do not receive the necessary care during the neonatal period may develop short to long-term health problems like asthma, pneumonia and other diseases. Rural health facilities of Nepal lack qualitative infant radiant warmer which is used to prevent hypothermia due to its high cost. They also fail to repair and maintain them due to a gap between the manufacturers and the users. While a few rural health facilities might have an infant radiant warmer, they are mostly not functioning further limiting their capability to provide a thermally stable environment to the neonate.