When preterm babies 'forget to breathe'

Dr Janette Karimi, Head, Division of Newborn and Child Health at the Ministry of Health.

According to Dr Karimi, reduction in newborn deaths requires great effort in creating community awareness of good nutrition, healthy lifestyle and nutrient supplementation.

Additionally, it requires health system strengthening and investment in both community health systems and health facility workers and equipment.

"There is a need for ensuring women are aware of their health before and during pregnancy, and plan to deliver in a health facility under a skilled health provider," notes the child health specialist.

Neonatal deaths, she says, occur when a mother does not seek timely access to delivery services because of a lack of awareness of danger signs for her health or that of her unborn baby.

Among danger signs in pregnancy where a mother should go to a health facility immediately for care include vaginal bleeding, severe headache, body swelling in pregnancy, and also reduced or no baby movements.

"Some of the reasons for delay in seeking care by pregnant women include lack of transport vehicle or cost of transport. Lack of basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEMONC) equipment, commodities and trained staff at health facilities also contributes to newborn deaths," notes Karimi.

To avert both infant and maternal deaths, the expert says there is a need for health facilities to be equipped as per the requirement for their level of services to be delivered.

Also, amid the implementation of Universal Health Coverage, she adds that the national and county government should invest in community health promotion services and early referral, in addition to improving the quality of care of mothers in labour and delivery in order to deliver a healthy newborn.

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