"When my baby rested on my chest, skin to skin. I felt his heart beat and he felt mine. I can never forget this moment. I want him to be a lawyer to defend the defenceless" says Miriam.
Every year in Malawi 120,000 babies are born premature and 28,300 newborns die or are stillborn. Prematurity is the leading cause of death among children under five globally, and Malawi has the highest premature birth rate in the world. Here 18% of all births are premature with low birth weight occurring in 13% of them. 89% of all neonatal mortality results from just 3 conditions: prematurity, infection and asphyxia or lack of oxygen.
UNICEF is supporting the Government of Malawi to improve the survival rates of babies born in Malawi. No matter where they are born, or who their parents are, all children have the right to survive – whether they are 2 hours or 2 days old. The good news is that there is hope that through working together we can all hear the silent cry of newborns and mothers in Malawi.