The NeoTree is a mobile Health app aiming to reduce newborn deaths in low-income countries. This is our team from Zimbabwe where the app is being used by doctors to improve quality of care and collect data for vulnerable newborns.

The problem: 2.8 million newborns die every year worldwide. 70% of these lives could be saved if simple basic newborn care was successfully implemented. Malawi has one of the poorest quality health care systems (ranking 185th out of 190th globally), a high newborn mortality rate of 29 per 1000 live births, and the highest rate of preterm births in the world. In Zimbabwe mortality is even higher. Most Malawian and Zimbabwean women give birth in hospitals where problems include lack of trained newborn doctors and nurses and data information systems.

The solution: The NeoTree application. Together with frontline doctors and nurses, using cutting-edge software development techniques we are building The NeoTree app to improve quality of newborn care in places which need it most. It will be used on low-cost android tablet devices or phones at the hospital bedside by doctors and nurses, supporting their care and treatment of sick newborns. The app combines 3 functions:

1. Digital data collection linked with national systems.

2. Support in making diagnoses and health management decisions according to international guidelines.

3. Feedback of laboratory results to improve treatment of infections.

Funds raised will be also be used to continue ongoing and planned research projects using the NeoTree app in Malawi and Zimbabwe and integrate the app with national systems. The first version of the NeoTree is already improving newborn care but still needs further development to have the greatest impact, and be sustainable in the future.

Project objectives: The main outcomes we hope to achieve with The NeoTree app are to improve quality of care and reduce newborn deaths. Our vision is for the NeoTree to be used by all doctors and nurses in newborn facilities across low-income countries. We are testing this in 2 sites: Malawi and Zimbabwe. Initial phases of development have have been successfully completed in Malawi with strong commitment from the Ministry of Health to improve quality of care. We estimate potential for The NeoTree to reduce neonatal mortality by up to 40%.

In February 2019 we will commence a validation study of the diagnostic algorithm over a 6-month period in Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi.

At the moment we are working particularly on how the NeoTree can be used for infection control in Zimbabwe.

From your generous donations:

£35 will run the NeoTree app for 1 day in Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi.

£52 will run the app for 1 day in Harare Central Hospital, Zimbabwe.

£160 will pay for 1 day of software development and...

£250 will run the NeoTree app for a whole week.

N.B these costs will come right down as the NeoTree becomes established.

For more information - Please visit

http://www.neotree.org/

https://vimeo.com/200483812

Thank you for your generosity and support!