Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a worrying study on the state of preterm births across the globe. According to researchers' findings, around 13 million premature babies are born each year; 11 million of these births are in Africa and Asia. Twelve percent of all African newborns fall into the "preemie" category, nearly double the rate recorded in Europe.

Born to mothers who are pregnant for 37 weeks or less, preemies are physically tiny and vulnerable to many debilitating, life-long health problems. On average, they have higher rates of respiratory illnesses, sensory deficits (such as blindness), learning disabilities and cerebral palsy than babies born at term. For children in developing countries, these issues are further exacerbated by lack of access to adequate healthcare. This is an especially pressing problem for mothers and their babies in rural areas.

During a baby's first month of life, its organs are still developing. This is a crucial period for preemies in particular because their lack of body fat makes it hard to keep warm. Not being able to regulate their body temperatures in this way can compromise organ function, and millions die each year as a result. While it's important to address the causes of premature birth and improve prenatal health in the developing world, finding ways to support preemies so they can reach a healthy weight is equally urgent.

In developed countries, this support usually comes in the form of sophisticated medical care and incubators. One single incubator can cost up to $20,000, a price largely unaffordable in many areas of the African countries WHO studied. But innovators worldwide are coming up with alternatives. At a recent TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference in India, the nonprofit organization Embrace introduced its design for a baby-sized sleeping bag, its interior lined with a meltable, re-heatable wax, which swaths a baby in constant 37 degree Celsius temperature for four to six hours at a time. Unlike an incubator, it requires no electricity, but works just as effectively to keep preemies warm.

The pouch is relatively affordable as well, only $25. While this is still too expensive for many mothers to purchase individually, governments and NGOs may be able to buy the sleeping bags in bulk and distribute them throughout communities.

Embrace's efforts have come under fire from critics who say the bag's price tag is a barrier for mothers in need. There are cheaper ways to help preemies – most notably, "kangaroo care," which costs nothing and advocates skin-on-skin contact (the parent's regulated body temperature stabilizes the baby's temperature) – but Embrace's sleeping bag is not meritless. It can provide a much needed respite for mothers when they are unable to work and tend to their baby simultaneously, not to mention mothers who are caring for multiple children. Getting preemies through their first months of life is the only way WHO's statistics will change for the better.

Tech Bytes

➲ Vodacom is on the verge of releasing a new, super-cheap netbook that could prove a game-changer for Internet use in Africa. The Linkbook uses an operating system geared towards Internet rather than offline desktop use and will be a device for the Web. Vodacom, the African subsidiary of Vodafone, is believed to be targeting the school and youth market with its new creation. Analysts believe the Linkbook could play a role in spreading computer and Internet access to new users around the continent. The device will have an embedded SIM card and webcam for video calls. 

➲ Scientists in Uganda have discovered a method to extract bio-ethanol from the non-edible parts of plants. The discovery paves the way for commercial production of ethanol from new sources, including cassava stems, cassava leaves, pineapple leaves, elephant grass stems and wood. Ethanol can be mixed with fossil fuels to cut greenhouse emissions from vehicles. The scientists conducted research using waste material from markets and once commercial production begins, it is hoped the method will help reduce such waste.

➲ Three new satellites will be launched for African use over the next 18 months. The operators of these satellites plan to provide services to broadcasters and telecommunications companies, as well as providing Internet access to consumers in areas poorly served by fixed-line and mobile networks.