To combat high rates of neonatal mortality, UNICEF Iran, alongside the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME), Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, and the Research Center for Children and Adolescents Health, organized two intensive neonatal health workshops in Saravan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Held on 1–2 and 3–4 December 2025, these sessions are central to UNICEF’s strategy to strengthen essential newborn care where it is needed most.
Strategic focus on life's critical "Golden Hours"
Saravan was prioritized for this capacity building because of its neonatal mortality rate (NMR) exceeding the national average, coupled with challenges like high staff turnover and a need for refreshed clinical skills. The training focused on the “Golden Hours”—the critical moments following birth when timely and skilled interventions drastically reduce preventable deaths and complications, ensuring the best possible start for every infant.
Practical skills for 70 frontline providers
The workshops provided hands-on, practical training to a total of 70 healthcare providers, including 40 midwives and 30 nurses from maternity and neonatal wards. Led by expert neonatologists, the curriculum covered crucial, life-saving techniques, including :
Through simulation-based exercises, participants enhanced their confidence and preparedness for real clinical scenarios.
