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Mongolia named among the nine priority countries as WHO's Early Essential Newborn Care reaches about 6500 childbirth facilities

15 November 2026

The World Health Organization reports that Mongolia is one of nine priority countries where its Early Essential Newborn Care package, whose opening step is called First Embrace, has been carried into about 6500 childbirth facilities since 2013. Issued from Manila, the review covers the Western Pacific Region, where 100 585 newborns died in 2022. More than 42 500 health workers have been coached beside the delivery bed, and by 2023 nearly 93% of full-term babies in assessed facilities were laid skin to skin on their mothers straight after birth. Kangaroo Mother Care for babies born early or weighing 2000 grams or less climbed to 56% in 2023 from 7% in 2015. Five of the nine countries have taken the package into at least 80% of their childbirth facilities and three more are close, with Dr Huong Tran and Dr Delgermaa Vanya of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific crediting steady coaching, teamwork and facility records.

Programme: Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) Childbirth facilities reached since 2013: about 6500 Priority countries: nine, including Mongolia Health workers coached: more than 42 500 Newborn deaths in the Western Pacific Region in 2022: 100 585 Kangaroo Mother Care coverage: 56% in 2023, from 7% in 2015

Why it matters for exams: It fixes the durable facts: WHO's Early Essential Newborn Care package and its First Embrace step, Mongolia as one of its nine priority countries, Kangaroo Mother Care for small babies, and the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific that serves Mongolia from Manila.

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15 November 2026 Source: World Health Organization

In plain words

EENC Early Essential Newborn Care — A WHO package of simple delivery-room steps, beginning with First Embrace, that keeps newborns warm and feeding early.

KMC Kangaroo Mother Care — Care in which a small or early-born baby is held upright against a parent's bare chest for long stretches, with breastfeeding support.