A precious life full of potential and promise. Now imagine that baby’s life in jeopardy because there aren’t enough trained nurses to provide the specialized care they need. In Jamaica, neonatal care is a critical issue, with many premature and sick newborns requiring expert attention to survive and thrive.
At the Center for Global Health at Connecticut Children’s, we believe in sustainable solutions. It’s often said, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” More recently, it’s been recognized how much that man also needs a fishing rod along with the knowledge of how to fish. This is the philosophy driving our neonatal nurse training program in Jamaica.

By investing in the education and training of local nurses, we are equipping them with the skills to save lives—not just today but for generations to come. These nurses become a lifeline for newborns, providing essential care that allows them to survive and flourish. The impact of their training ripples outwards: to families, to communities, and the nation as a whole.

In Jamaica, the death of premature babies contributes significantly to all infant deaths. A skilled medical team of physicians and nurses can dramatically improve the outcomes of these babies. Despite the efforts of the local health ministry in training specialist nurses (including neonatal nurses) through formal training programs, the demand far outweighs the number of trained nurses available to care for these vulnerable children.