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Save the Children
 
Saving Newborn Lives in Ethiopia, A Nurse’s Story

Vicki’s Story: Helping the World’s Babies

Delivery nurse Vicki Akin

 Vicki Akin has been a labor and delivery nurse for more than 30 years, 3/16/09. Credit: Guy Calaf.

As a delivery and labor nurse, Vicki Akin of Las Vegas has helped some 3,000 American babies come into the world. In 2008 she decided to help moms and babies in developing countries, too.

"Babies are the same all across the world," said Akin. "Each baby deserves to have a healthy start." 

Akin traveled with Save the Children to Ethiopia in March 2009 to visit hospitals, health posts and homes to see how low-cost, simple health interventions are improving children's health and survival. According to UNICEF, more than 1 out of 8 Ethiopian children under age 5 dies, and more than 40 percent of these deaths are among babies under a month old.

At one health clinic in Awassa, Akin saw children being vaccinated against major childhood diseases, and receiving medicines costing less than US $1.00 to treat pneumonia and dehydration from diarrhea. 

Weighing a child in Ethiopia

A baby is weighed on a scale hanging under a tree, 3/16/09. Credit: Guy Calaf 

Akin watched babies being weighed the traditional way — in a basket attached to a scale hung from a tree and saw health workers check babies' arm circumference to determine if they were malnourished. As the cost of basic food items goes up because of the global food crisis, many families struggle to provide proper food for their children. 

"From this health post, if a mom had a premature baby, she'd have to go quite a distance to receive a higher level of care, versus in the states, we'd send out a helicopter," Akin says. She adds that this lapse in time between delivery and getting help can cause more problems for the mom and baby. "So having services right here in the community is important," said Akin. 

Akin shared photos and stories from her "eye-opening" visit to Ethiopia with elected officials during Save the Children's annual Advocacy Day on April 21-22 in Washington DC. She even knitted a special 'angel' cap for them with the message, "Be an angel! Increase funding for child survival programs please!"

Additional Resources

Read more about Nurse Vicki's trip to Ethiopia

Find out more about Survive to 5

Last Updated April 2009
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