In this episode, Shelly-Ann and Mbozu sit down with a few members of the Parents Neonatal Intensive Care Charity affiliated with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados.

Heidi and Andrew Hutchinson, parents of a baby born at 30 weeks who is now a practicing lawyer, share how they transitioned from frightened NICU parents to decades-long advocates. June Walton and Cheryl Walrond, retired NICU nurses, describe building the first parent education sessions and the culture of care that followed.

What began as a Thursday evening Q&A between overwhelmed parents and NICU nurses in the early 1990s grew into a registered charity that funded system improvements over time. These included refurbishing every incubator in the unit, securing surfactant in the early days before it was on national drug formulary, purchasing a portable X-Ray machine among many other initiatives.

Dr. Naiza Ngowo Monono, the sole pediatrician at Limbe Regional Hospital in Cameroon for nearly a decade, shares how she reduced neonatal mortality to 16 per 1,000—well below the national average. Key interventions included implementing hygiene protocols, training staff on danger sign recognition and neonatal resuscitation, task-shifting responsibilities to nurses and general practitioners, scaling Kangaroo Mother Care, and partnering with UNICEF to train referral hospitals for earlier identification and transfer. Dr. Ngowo Monono emphasizes starting with available resources, building team capacity through mentorship, and maintaining discipline in planning. She advocates for multidisciplinary post-discharge follow-up and improved respiratory care as next priorities for advancing newborn outcomes.

Join hosts Shelly-Ann Dakarai and Mbozu Sipalo as they celebrate two incredible years of the Global Neonatal Podcast! Dive into their journey of global connections, where starting small, embracing teamwork, and learning from diverse neonatal health heroes have been key. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing listeners—your support fuels our passion! We're excited to continue this journey and bring you more inspiring stories from neonatal change makers in 2026.

In this episode, Mbozu and Shelly-Ann are joined by Jean Musonda-Chintende, a critical care nurse and national trainer in advanced newborn care with the Ministry of Health in Zambia. Jean shares her decade-long journey in neonatal intensive care and her leadership in building and mentoring neonatal units across the country.

She discusses the process of setting up special care baby units in hospitals that previously lacked neonatal services, including assessing facility readiness, training staff, and ensuring standardized care through continued mentorship. Jean highlights partnerships with organizations such as UNICEF and Clinton Health Access Initiative that support equipment and training efforts.

The conversation also touches on the challenges of workforce retention, the importance of continuous education for nurses, and the power of recognition in maintaining morale. Jean reflects on her role in Zambia’s historic 2017 conjoined twins separation, how that experience shaped her approach to critical care, and her personal mission to reduce neonatal mortality through training and compassion.

A deeply practical conversation about scaling neonatal care in resource-limited settings and the dedication it takes to make lasting change.

In this episode, Dr. Ruth Grace Babirekoba discusses the transformative efforts in newborn care in Uganda, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals. She shares insights on the National Surfactant Administration Protocol and her personal journey in maternal and newborn health, highlighting the significance of mentorship and self-care for future leaders in healthcare.

In this episode, Mbozu and Shelly-Ann are joined by Dr Kate Kan, Consultant Pediatrician and the director of the Neonatal Unit at theRegional hospital in Bamenda Cameroon. During the discussion, Dr Kan describes her journey from aspiring pediatrician to her current role as the head of the Neonatal Unit at her institution. She describes some of the challenges as well as the progress that is being made to improve neonatal care in her region. Dr. Kan also highlights the impact of mentorship in her journey and shares her views on how mentorship not only guides individual careers but also enhances neonatal care in resource-limited settings.

In this episode, Mbozu interviews Dr. Olufunke Bolaji, consultant pediatrician and neonatologist at the Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, shares her journey into neonatology, driven by mentorship, a love for children, and global learning experiences in Nigeria and the UK. She describes leading a high-performing neonatal unit in a rural Nigerian setting that has achieved Level 3 care, supported by strong hospital administration and collaborations.

Her research focuses on preterm births, neonatal sepsis, respiratory support, and newborn metrics, with emphasis on data-driven quality improvement. As a leader in the African Neonatal Association, she champions collaboration, advocacy, and “decolonizing” neonatal research by centering African-led priorities and implementation. She highlights the importance of teamwork, mentorship, data, and partnerships in merging clinical care with impactful research.

In this episode, Shelly-Ann interviews Professor Karen Walker and Edith Gicheha about the importance of specialized training in neonatal nursing, the challenges faced in low and middle-income contexts, and the role of COIN (Council of International Neonatal Nurses) in advocating for improved neonatal care globally. They discuss the significance of continuous education, the establishment of the Community of Nursing Practice, and the impact of NEST 360 in providing essential solutions and training for neonatal care. The conversation highlights inspiring stories of nurses making a difference in their communities and the importance of collaboration in improving neonatal health outcomes.