(The Kanga Kare team tests their IncuPack in a rural hospital in Ngao, Thailand.)
Kanga Kare, the winners of the CET Social Entrepreneurship Challenge course (IEOR 190C), visited Thailand to test their revolutionary IncuPack – an incubation vest for newborn babies in rural areas of the world.
More than 130 million infants are born every year. 4 million of those infants die within the first 28 days (neonatal death). Of those 4 million deaths, 75% occur within the first week, adding up to 3 million neonatal deaths. And of that 3 million, more than 25% occur within the first 24 hours, which is at least 750,000 neonatal deaths. These deaths are truly heartbreaking as they entail a loss of life for the baby, an emotional toll on the family, and a loss of boundless potential for a human life.
With Kanga Kare’s IncuPack, the Kanga Kare team hopes to alleviate the death toll of preterm and ill babies in developing countries due to inefficient care. By allowing for safe transport to tertiary care centers, our product gives these babies and their families a chance at life and a hope for the future.
For more information on Kanga Kare, visit their Facebook page.