Today is International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day — a moment dedicated to promoting and advocating for the practice of Kangaroo Care, a method of nurturing newborns that offers significant benefits for both infants and parents.

At the Ifakara Health Institute, we proudly join hands with NEST360 in marking this day under the global theme “In My Arms, You Thrive.” This theme is more than a message — it is a call to action and a reminder of the life-saving power of touch. 

Kangaroo Care is a simple, low-cost intervention that can have a profound impact: stabilizing fragile newborns, strengthening the bond between mother and child, and promoting healthy development throughout life.

Voices from the frontlines

As part of the commemoration, our NEST360 program spoke to Hilda Moses, a nurse, and Mariam Joseph Mwakabungu, a surrogate mother, at Amana Regional Referral Hospital about the importance and real-life impact of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC).

Hilda shared her experience on how transformative this method has been for premature and low-birth-weight babies in their care. “One of the greatest benefits we’ve seen with KMC is that babies gain weight more steadily,” she said. “When a mother holds her baby against her chest, she can easily monitor the baby’s breathing, and the baby, in turn, feels the mother’s breathing rhythm — which encourages the baby to breathe better, too.”

Mariam, who is currently acting as a surrogate caregiver for a newborn, reflected on how much the practice has taught her, both emotionally and practically. “These babies are just like any other babies,” she said. “So when a mother gives birth to a premature baby, there’s no need to fear or lose hope — the baby can thrive like any other child.” She emphasized that offering warmth and love through Kangaroo Mother Care helps the baby grow faster “in ways you might not expect.”

Mariam also noted the role of surrogate caregivers in ensuring that no child is left behind. “For mothers who sadly passed away after giving birth, this care doesn’t have to be done by the biological mother alone. Even a surrogate caregiver, like myself, can do it,” she said. “In the end, what matters most is helping the baby grow well and strong.”

About Kangaroo Mother Care 

Kangaroo Care, named after the way kangaroos carry their young in a pouch, involves skin-to-skin contact between a newborn and their parent or caregiver. It has been widely recognized for its ability to regulate the baby’s temperature, heart rate, and breathing. It also encourages bonding and supports breastfeeding — all of which are critical for a baby’s survival, especially in resource-limited settings.

About NEST360 

The Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) — which Ifakara Health Institute implements in Tanzania — is a global effort working to reduce newborn deaths by 50% in hospitals across Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria. Built on sustainable, evidence-based solutions, NEST360 aims to strengthen health systems through better tools, improved training, and upgraded infrastructure. In Tanzania, the program collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health to improve care in neonatal units nationwide.

Today and every day, we thank the midwives, nurses, and caregivers who make Kangaroo Care possible. Their commitment — backed by training, technology, and compassion — continues to save the tiniest lives, one heartbeat at a time.