ALT On 9 September 2026, NEST360, together with the Ministry of Health, conducted a REDCap refresher training for Data Clerks from the Central East and Central West Zones. The training focused on strengthening practical skills in data quality, timely REDCap entry, DHIS2 reporting, and using data to inform decisions and improve care. Participants also received hands-on orientation on the Quality Tracker, helping them identify and address data quality issues, while sharing experiences about common challenges such as system downtime, limited data bundles, workload, and access to data-entry devices. Every data point tells us something about the care newborns receive. By improving the quality, timeliness and use of neonatal data, we can better identify gaps, track progress and support quality improvement where it matters most. Better data helps teams make better decisions for newborns.

ALT NEST360 Malawi joined neonatal health professionals and researchers from around the world at the 2026 Council of International Neonatal Nurses Conference, held 26–28 August in Darwin, Australia, under the theme “Transforming Neonatal Care: Innovate, Influence and Inspire.” NEST360 Malawi contributed presentations and evidence across areas including: • Individual-level DHIS2 data use
• Quality improvement
• Low-dose, high-frequency training
• Hub-and-spoke mentorship
• Newborn equipment management
• Hand hygiene
• Neonatal resuscitation The team's work received international recognition, receiving two awards from the LMIC category: 🏆 Best Poster from an LMIC for “Improving newborn outcomes in Malawi: implementation of low-dose high-frequency training for healthcare providers.” 🏆 Best Oral Presentation from an LMIC for “Assessing practice and outcomes of neonatal resuscitation at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi.”

ALT Quality improvement is most effective when healthcare teams have the skills, data and support to identify and address challenges within their own facilities. From 14–15 September 2026, the Mwanza Regional Health Management Team welcomed NEST360 QI Associates Dr. Robert Tillya and Dr. Siham for a two-day visit with Work Improvement Teams (WITs). The visit focused on strengthening the QI process and refining projects addressing two important areas of newborn care: Sekou Toure Regional Referral Hospital: improving early initiation of CPAP. Sengerema District Designated Hospital: increasing initiation of Kangaroo Mother Care within the first hour. Both projects were developed locally through the QI Master Training and are now being facilitated and monitored by trained RHMT and CHMT members. This approach puts local teams at the centre of improvement, combining local data, practical problem-solving and strengthened leadership capacity to address challenges affecting small and sick newborns.

ALT At the South West Zonal Review Meeting for District Hospital Management Teams on 6 August 2026, NEST360 Malawi shared evidence to support better planning for essential newborn commodities and equipment spare parts. Drawing on consumption and cost data collected since 2019, NEST360 highlighted how facilities and districts can use routine data to: • Forecast future commodity and spare-parts needs
• Strengthen budgeting and procurement planning
• Support resource mobilisation and advocacy for increased funding
• Advocate for essential newborn commodities and spare parts to be included in the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) catalogue Sustaining quality newborn care requires more than having the right technologies in place. Facilities also need reliable systems to plan, budget and procure the supplies and spare parts required to keep those services running. Integrating newborn commodities into routine district procurement & budgeting is an important step toward sustainable newborn care.

ALT NEST360 Tanzania had a strong presence at the International Primary Healthcare Conference (IPHC) 2026 in Arusha, bringing evidence and implementation experience on improving care for small and sick newborns to a diverse audience of health sector stakeholders. Our team delivered four presentations exploring different aspects of newborn care: • sharing lessons from the implementation experience
 • highlighting approaches to keeping mothers and newborns together
 • exploring lessons from facilities achieving strong results
 • highlighting the impact of investments in newborn care The sessions generated meaningful discussions and positive engagement, reinforcing the importance of evidence, innovation and partnerships in strengthening newborn care in Tanzania. The NEST360 Tanzania booth was also a busy space throughout the conference, welcoming more than 150 visitors including Government leaders, Members of Parliament, healthcare providers, partners and other stakeholders.

ALT Building a stronger workforce for comprehensive newborn care NEST360 Nigeria, in collaboration with UNICEF, CIHP, and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, conducted a six-day Training of Trainers (ToT) course on comprehensive newborn care. The training covered key areas including essential newborn care, infection prevention and control, newborn triage, referral and transport, newborn resuscitation, oxygen therapy and equipment, care of preterm and low birthweight infants, and newborn nutrition. By building a critical pool of skilled trainers, the course will help strengthen the capacity to rapidly scale up comprehensive newborn care skills across Nigeria and beyond. Investing in trainers is an investment in sustainable capacity: equipping more healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality care for small and sick newborns.

ALT NEST360 Nigeria, in collaboration with Mutabell, conducted equipment installation, commissioning, and hands-on user training at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) & Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu Paediatric Hospital (KSIRPH). At AKTH, 3 Celsi Warmers, 1 Oxygen Analyzer & a BMET toolkit were donated, with 33 doctors, nurses & biomedical engineers receiving practical training. At KSIRPH, 2 Celsi Warmers, 3 Celsi Monitors, 1 Oxygen Analyzer & a BMET toolkit were provided, while 20 healthcare workers participated in hands-on training. The intervention addresses critical contributors to preventable newborn deaths, including hypothermia, inadequate oxygen delivery & gaps in medical equipment maintenance. Importantly, the approach goes beyond providing equipment. By combining appropriate technologies with practical training for clinical & biomedical engineering teams, NEST360 is helping facilities build the capacity to use, maintain, and sustain essential equipment for quality newborn care.

ALT The upgraded Neonatal Unit at Mulanje District Hospital Malawi has officially been opened on 26 August, 2026, strengthening the hospital's capacity to provide quality care to sick and vulnerable newborns. The handover ceremony was presided over by Dr Owen Chikweza, Director of Reproductive Health in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, who said the improved infrastructure would help address some of the challenges previously affecting neonatal care. “Proper space is one of the key factors required to offer quality neonatal services, alongside qualified health workers and appropriate equipment,” said Dr Chikweza. He challenged the hospital to use the opportunity to go beyond its current 14 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births and work towards achieving, and surpassing the 12 per 1,000 target. The renovation was implemented through a partnership between the Ministry of Health, NEST360, NICO, AFRICAP LLC and FCA Corp under the NEST360 Infrastructure Fund.

ALT Born 11 weeks early and weighing less than two pounds, Eden Jarrett knows firsthand how much access to quality newborn care can matter. Seventeen years later, that experience has inspired her to take action for other babies born too soon. After learning about the stark disparities in access to essential newborn equipment across sub-Saharan Africa, Eden founded Tiny Fighters Africa, a nonprofit supporting hospitals in Nigeria with lifesaving neonatal equipment. Through the NEST360 alliance, Eden connected with Hatch Technologies, a Kenya-based newborn device distributor. Together, they've delivered full equipment bundles along with the installation and the clinical and maintenance training needed to keep devices working for years, to Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. "My wish is that all babies have the same chance of survival that I had." — Eden Jarrett, Founder, Tiny Fighters Africa