Every Infant Matters partners with National Neonatology Forum Delhi to strengthen newborn healthcare
Kargil : In a major initiative to strengthen newborn healthcare in Ladakh, non-profit organisation Every Infant Matters (EIM), in collaboration with the National Neonatology Forum (NNF), Delhi, has launched a specialised neonatal training programme for frontline healthcare workers in Kargil.
The initiative marks the fourth consecutive year of Every Infant Matters’ engagement in Kargil and, for the first time, brings the National Neonatology Forum, Delhi on board as an academic partner. Under the programme, leading neonatologists from Delhi will deliver structured online training sessions aimed at enhancing the skills of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals working in one of India’s most geographically challenging regions.
Organisers said the programme is driven by the belief that no newborn should be denied life-saving, evidence-based healthcare because of where they are born.
Kargil’s difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions often restrict access to specialist neonatal services, making frontline healthcare workers the primary providers of care for mothers and newborns. The initiative seeks to bridge this gap by equipping them with the latest knowledge and clinical practices in neonatal medicine.
The programme is being led by Dr. Radhika Batra, President of Every Infant Matters, and Shikha Tikoo, Regional Director (North India), with support from Dr. Anoop Thakur, Secretary, National Neonatology Forum Delhi, and Dr. Surender Kumar Bisht, President, National Neonatology Forum Delhi.
The inaugural academic session focused on the Care of the Normal Newborn and was conducted by senior neonatologists Dr. Pratima Anand and Dr. Madhuri. It marks the beginning of a comprehensive series of online lectures and training sessions to be delivered by neonatal experts from Delhi over the coming months.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Surender Kumar Bisht said the National Neonatology Forum was honoured to partner with Every Infant Matters in taking evidence-based neonatal education to some of the country’s most remote regions.
“Every healthcare worker we train has the potential to transform the lives of countless newborns and families. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that no child is denied quality healthcare because of where they are born,” he said.
Dr. Radhika Batra said every child, irrespective of geography, deserves access to the highest standards of neonatal care.
“A baby born in Kargil deserves the same evidence-based, high-quality care as a baby born in any metropolitan tertiary care centre. By empowering the healthcare workers who serve these communities every day, we are building sustainable local capacity that will continue to save newborn lives for generations to come,” she said.
Over the past four years, Every Infant Matters has worked closely with local health authorities and healthcare workers in Kargil through continuous education, mentorship and skills development programmes. According to the organisation, these sustained efforts have contributed to improvements in maternal and newborn healthcare outcomes in the region.
The collaboration between Every Infant Matters and the National Neonatology Forum Delhi aims to bridge healthcare disparities by using technology to connect India’s leading neonatal specialists with frontline healthcare providers in remote areas, ensuring that every newborn receives quality care regardless of geographical barriers.
Every Infant Matters is a non-profit organisation working to improve maternal, newborn and infant health through capacity building, treatment of malnutrition and childhood anaemia, education, advocacy and sustainable healthcare initiatives in partnership with healthcare institutions and government agencies.
