Tiny Feet, Big Steps Neonatology Conferences (TFBS)
Advancing Care of Critically Ill and Premature Babies in Africa
Africa’s Largest Clinical Neonatology Training Conference
Tiny Feet Big Steps brings together physicians, nurses, and neonatal healthcare professionals from across Africa for a week of practical, evidence-based education focused on caring for critically ill and premature newborns.
This conference stands apart through its hands-on, practical approach to learning. Participants take part in simulation labs and interactive workshops, supported by an exceptional 1:5 instructor-to-participant ratio. With 50 instructors for 250 participants, everyone has meaningful opportunities to ask questions, practice skills, and engage directly with experienced faculty.
Our mission is simple: equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge, skills, and resources to help more babies survive—and thrive.
Why Tiny Feet Big Steps?
Every year, thousands of African babies are born prematurely or become critically ill. Many can survive with timely, evidence-based care using practical, low-cost interventions.
Tiny Feet Big Steps equips healthcare professionals to provide that care.
Participants return home with practical skills they can immediately implement in their own hospitals, improving care for newborns, mentoring colleagues, and strengthening neonatal services throughout their communities.
Our Impact Since 2021
- 1,000+ physicians and nurses trained
- 240+ hospitals represented
- 22 African countries
- 90+ lectures and hands-on workshops/conference
- 50 international faculty members
What Makes Tiny Feet Big Steps Different?
Practical Skills
Hands-on education designed specifically for African neonatal intensive care units. Morning lectures are followed by afternoon workshops where participants put learning into practice. Through resuscitation simulations, CPAP setup, and hands-on exercises in feeding calculations and blood glucose monitoring, physicians and nurses actively develop and reinforce the skills needed to care for newborns.
Training That Multiplies
Participants return home prepared not only to improve bedside care but also to mentor colleagues, strengthen multidisciplinary teams, and introduce evidence-based practices throughout their hospitals. Many participants stay connected with instructors after the conference as they implement new practices and encounter challenges. Mentorship begins at the conference but continues long after participants return home, providing ongoing support as they work to strengthen care in their own facilities.
Practical Resources
Every hospital receives a large-format copy of Every Breath Counts: Manual of Neonatal Care & Drug Doses, for use in its NICU, while participants can purchase their own copy at cost during the conference.
Training Together
We uniquely train physicians and nurses side by side, strengthening teamwork and improving NICU culture. Each hospital is required to send at least one nurse and one physician, creating a team that can bring what they learn back to their home institution. This approach strengthens collaboration and increases the opportunity to put new knowledge and skills into practice. Watch this short video about training together.
The Conference Experience
- More than 90 lectures and interactive workshops
- Hands-on procedural skills training
- Simulation-based learning
- Case discussions
- Research and quality improvement sessions
- Networking with healthcare professionals from across Africa
- Faculty representing academic institutions in more than a dozen countries
Hear From Participants
Tiny Feet Big Steps: Voices of Impact
Hear directly from physicians, nurses, and faculty as they share how Tiny Feet Big Steps is transforming newborn care across Africa.
- Education.
- Mentorship.
- Partnership.
- One healthcare professional.
- One hospital.
- One baby at a time.
Ways to Help
Partner With Tiny Feet Big Steps
Tiny Feet Big Steps is possible because of generous partners who believe every newborn deserves access to quality care. Whether you sponsor a healthcare professional, provide educational resources, or support the conference as a whole, your investment helps strengthen neonatal care across Africa.
Sponsor a Doctor or Nurse
Help a physician or nurse attend Tiny Feet Big Steps. $350 sponsors one healthcare professional.
Provide Every Breath Counts Handbooks
Equip hospitals with practical neonatal reference manuals used every day at the bedside.
Become a Conference Partner
Help make world-class neonatal education accessible to more healthcare professionals across Africa.
Stay Connected
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