WHO Launches Global Guide to Strengthen Kangaroo Mother Care for Preterm Babies

The World Health Organization has officially marked its first World Prematurity Day by releasing a new global clinical guide on Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a simple yet highly effective method that improves survival for premature and low birth weight infants. Each year, around 15 million babies are born preterm, and related complications remain the leading cause of death among children under five. KMC—prolonged skin-to-skin contact paired with breast-milk feeding—significantly reduces newborn deaths, hypothermia, and severe infections, and supports healthier growth and development.

The new WHO guide provides step-by-step instructions for health workers, facility managers, and caregivers on initiating and sustaining KMC immediately after birth, except when babies require urgent stabilization. While mothers are typically the primary providers, fathers and family members can also participate. WHO urges countries to prioritize quality neonatal care, ensure trained staff, and create environments that enable families to remain close to their newborns.

25-11-2025