The Incubator #212 - Advancing Neonatal Care in Africa (Ft. Dr. Alex Stevenson)
In this special episode of the Incubator Podcast, hosts Ben and Daphna are joined by Dr. Alex Stevenson, a neonatologist from Zimbabwe who serves as the president of the African Neonatal Association (ANA) and principal investigator for the African Neonatal Network. Dr. Stevenson shares his journey into neonatology and highlights the stark differences in neonatal care and outcomes between well-resourced private hospitals and less well-resourced public hospitals in Africa.
The discussion focuses on the objectives and accomplishments of the ANA, which aims to improve neonatal mortality, morbidity, quality of care, education, collaboration, and advocacy across the continent. Dr. Stevenson emphasizes the importance of unifying African neonatologists, nurses, and parents to advocate for better resources and care for newborns. He also touches on the ethical considerations of conducting research in low and middle-income countries, stressing the need for research to directly benefit the communities involved.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Stevenson expresses hope for the future of neonatal care in Africa, citing advancements like the African Neonatal Network and the potential for African-led innovations in care. The conversation concludes with a call for greater collaboration and support between high-income and low-income countries to address the global burden of neonatal mortality and morbidity.
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!