The maternal , newborn , and child health continuum of care

Mothers, newborns, and children are inseparably linked in life and in health care needs. In the past, maternal and child health policy and programmes tended to address the mother and child separately, resulting in gaps in care which especially affect newborn babies. How can these gaps be addressed, especially during birth and the first days of life, when most mothers and newborns die, and at home, where most newborn deaths in Africa occur?