Styrofoam Box for Keeping Newborns Warm
Styrofoam Box for Keeping Newborns Warm
About You
About You
First Name
Subhashchandra
Last Name
Daga
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
http:www.facebook.com/subhashchandra.daga
About Your Organization
Organization Name
MIMER Medical College
Organization Website
Organization Country
India, MM, Pune
Country where this project is creating social impact
India, MM, Pune
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
How long has your organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
None
References - Please provide two references with a two-sentence biography, email address, and phone number for each
1. Prof Sanjay Patole, MD, DCH, FRACP, MSC, DrPH
Department of Neonatal Paediatrics, KEM Hospital for Women, University of Western Australia, Perth.
Tel: 61-8-93401260, Fax: 1266
Office e-mail: sanjay.patole@health.wa.gov.au
He has done his medical education in India. He has seen the functioning of Styrofoam box from a close distance. Currently, he is working in Australia, at a large perinatal centre and in a responsible position. He is in a good position to visualise the usefulness of Styrofoam box in a larger context.
2. Mr. D.T. Joseph
Formerly Secretary Public Health, Government of Maharashtra, India.
He was secretary to the Government of Maharashtra when Styrofoam box was used in rural areas of Maharashtra, under the Rural Neonatal Care Programme. Hence, he is conversant with public health issues related to child survival in a developing country.
dtjoseph@gmail.com +91-9819671186
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Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Scaling (the next step will be growing impact on a regional or even global scale)
How long have you been in operation?
Operating for more than 5 years
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Each year an estimated 3.6 million newborn deaths occur worldwide.Reducing neonatal deaths is an integral part of the Millennium Development Goal for child survival (1). The World Health Organization has adopted thermal control among the essential components of newborn care considering the contribution of hypothermia to neonatal mortality and morbidity (4). UNICEF has recognized that prevention and management of hypothermia has the potential to reduce neonatal mortality or morbidity by 18%-42% (5). Almost all neonatal deaths occur in low resources settings, and hypothermia at birth alone could increase the risk of neonatal death regardless of weight and gestational age (2). We are providing solution to the problem of neonatal hypothermia in low resource set up around the world.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
We propose a Styrofoam box as an innovative solution to prevent neonatal hypothermia in low resource setting. This is a simple, inexpensive(costs USD 4) and low/no maintenance device that does not run on electricity.It is suitable for the rural areas of developing countries where most newborn deaths occur. This versatile device can be washed and reused.Besides, it thwarts bacterial growth being a non-vegetative material. It is well received by the community as it goes well with culturally accepted belief of keeping a baby warm (see video). An illiterate village birth attendant can be trained to use the box (6). Styrofoam box is also an able adjunct to kangaroo care (7). We have used it to prevent neonatal hypothermia at the place of birth, during transportation and as a home incubator to maintain the ‘warm chain’ (Figure 1, 2, 3). The potential of this innovative device has recently been appreciated by conferring the BMJ Group Award 2011 for innovations in health care (8).
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
• The classic situation where this solution makes a difference is when a baby needs transfer to a higher facility for specialised care. All efforts in shifting the baby will be futile if the baby becomes cold and her condition worsens during transportation. Attempts to revive such a baby may take massive efforts at the referral centre, and may not be successful. Styrofoam box offers the extremely important thermal protection during transport.
• Another situation is when a very low birth weight baby is discharged from the hospital. Her metabolic processes may have normalized but the threat of cold stress persists. Styrofoam box can be used as a home incubator. After feeding the baby can sleep in the box.
• In rural areas of developing countries, there is reluctance to admit a low birth weight baby to a hospital for longer duration. Loss of wages and the need for looking after other children at home are the frequently stated reasons. Styrofoam box can keep low birth weight babies warm at home with the overall care supervised by the community nurse.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
To best of my knowledge, there is no one working to offer Styrofoam box to keep babies warm.
Electronic devices such as incubators are used for neonatal transport in developed countries.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Social Impact
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
2. First we used Styrofoam box for taking a baby to the radiology department since we did not have portable x- ray machines then. We found that the baby’s temperature before and after x-ray did not differ much. Thus, usefulness of the box for transportation requiring around one hour was established. We then used it for getting a CT-scan that required 3-4 hours. Soon, the situation arose for the ‘Aha’ moment. A very-low-birth-weight baby was ready to go home after spending 35 days in our hospital. All of us were anxious, anticipating a re-admission, since the baby was unlikely to remain warm in the slum dwelling. After explaining the mother, we kept the baby in the box from morning to evening and later through night. We kept close vigil. She maintained her temperature in the box. Aha moment had finally arrived!! At home, she was in styrofoam box,the home incubator! On follow up we realised that we had achieved what we wanted to. We knew this simple device had large scale implications.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
We should like to see Styrofoam box developing in to: i) a transport incubator- for transport from home to hospital and from primary health centre to a referral hospital and ii) a home incubator- for low birth weight babies.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
There is widespread awareness about this device.Observational studies about its effectiveness are published in medical literature.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
I do not see any significant progress happening without randomised study comparing the box with radiant warmer being undertaken.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
presentation at state health directorate, two presentations at district level and four presentations at PHC.
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
As above
Task 2
As above
Task 3
As above
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Use of Styrofoam box appears in the teaching and training material of the state health department.
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
Use of Styrofoam box appears in the teaching and training material of the state health department.
Task 2
To get funding for conducting a trial comparing Styrofoam box and radiant warmer (conventional method).
Task 3
conduct the trial
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
None
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your innovation? If so, where and why?
No
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
Not applicable at present
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
None
 | 4 weeks agoMeg Wirth said: Dear Maharashtra team We are really interested in your innovation of using a styrofoam box to keep infants warm. We would like to ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 14 weeks agoSubhashchandra Daga said: One statewide effort has been made in Maharashtra two decades ago.Sustained efforts to train health staff and provide the boxes at ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 14 weeks agoSubhashchandra Daga said: We hope to renew our efforts to reach NRHM and MOHFW. Devices working on electricity are no answer to home care of the newborns in rural ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 14 weeks agoAkila Maheshwari said: This looks to me as a wonderful idea considering we have issues of electricity and power in many settings. Have you patented this ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 15 weeks agoRuchi Dass said: These are some of the efforts that need to be routed to NRHM and MOHFW to be incorporated in statewise millennium development ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 15 weeks agoSubhashchandra Daga updated this Competition Entry. |
| 15 weeks agoSubhashchandra Daga updated this Competition Entry. |
| 16 weeks agoSubhashchandra Daga updated this Competition Entry. |
| 16 weeks agoSubhashchandra Daga submitted this idea. |
