Newborn Nutrition Reference Application (NNDAK)
Promoting Standards-Based, Data-Driven Newborn Care
About the Project
Human breast milk is a biological necessity for newborn survival, especially for preterm, sick, or underweight infants. However, nearly 40% of low-birth-weight neonates in low- and middle-income countries face an elevated risk of illness or developmental defects due to inadequate nutritional support. The Neonatal Nutrition Digital Adaptation Kit (NNDAK) is a standards-based mobile and web reference application developed to streamline data collection, monitor infant feeding, and safeguard newborn health.
Awards & Recognition
In 2023, NNDAK received recognition from the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) as an approved Digital Public Good (DPG).
Key Features and Innovations
● Interactive Baby Growth Chart – a key clinical innovation that measures and visualizes the rate of newborn growth]. Leveraging publicly available fetal weight data from the InterGrowth Chart 21, it generates an on-screen preterm growth graph, allowing practitioners to identify growth concerns and make rapid clinical decisions.
● Comprehensive Feed Management: Facilitates seamless patient registration, baby profiles, nutritional assessment and precise prescription of routine and supplemental feeds.
● Directly integrates with human milk banks to streamline donor human milk (DHM) orders and manage milk bank inventory efficiently.
● Lactation & Discharge Support: Reviews maternal lactation status, provides educational guidance on positioning and expression to support mothers, and guides clinicians through safe discharge planning.
● Interoperable & Offline-First: Developed using Google’s Android FHIR SDK, aligned with WHO SMART Guidelines and the Principles for Digital Development, making it fully interoperable, offline-capable, and ready for integration with national systems like DHIS2 or OpenMRS.
Real-World Impact and Footprint
● NNDAK underwent intensive usability testing against real clinical workflows at Pumwani Maternity Hospital (PMH) in Nairobi, one of Africa’s largest public maternity facilities.
● Ready for High-Volume Pilot: The platform was configured for piloting with an estimated 150 healthcare workers at PMH, designed to support the feeding and growth of approximately 36,000 newborns annually.
● Following its implementation at PMH, NNDAK is anticipated to scale to a global network of 700 human milk banks.
Clients & Partners
The Philips Foundation and Philips East Africa Limited.
Co-Design Partners: Developed by IntelliSOFT Consulting Limited in collaboration with PATH Living Labs (PATH), Pumwani Maternity Hospital, and the Ministry of Health, Kenya.