Essential Newborn Care in the Eastern Caribbean: Adapting Essential Care for Every Baby in the Context of Ongoing Zika Transmission

Background: The outbreak and ongoing transmission of Zika virus since 2016 have been an occasion to strengthen essential newborn care and early childhood developmental surveillance for the health systems in Zika-affected regions. Since July 2018, the USAID Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project has been working with the ministries of health (MOH) to provide short term technical assistance in four Eastern and Southern Caribbean (ESC) countries (Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica) to improve care of children and families potentially affected by Zika, specifically strengthening of essential newborn care. Methods: Essential Care for …