World Prematurity Day: Group Call for Collective Actions to End Newborn Morbidity

Sunday Ehigiator

In commemoration of the World Prematurity Day, themed, ‘Zero Separation, Act Now, Keep parents and Babies Born too soon Together’, a new national newborn advocacy group, ‘Purple Baby Project’, has urged governments across the world to take collective actions to accelerate efforts towards ending preventable newborn deaths in the world.

The World Prematurity Day (WPD) has been celebrated annually every November 17 since 2009 and is used to raise awareness of the burden of preterm (children born before 37 completed weeks of gestation) birth globally and its associated challenges.

According to experts at the event held at the Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH), separation between parents and babies can cause severe and long-term health and developmental issues in newborns and parents’ mental health.

The event which was organised by the Neonatology-Perinatology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), in collaboration with NEST 360 and Studio 24, beckoned on mothers to adopt the use of ‘Kangaroo Mother Care’ in keeping premature babies warm, instead of incubators.

Speaking at the event, the Head, Neonatal unit, LUTH, Chinyere Ezeaka said there was a great need for intensive advocacy and awareness creation for all stakeholders; government, healthcare workers, NGOs, communities and families to take steps to prevent preterm births where possible, and support the care of such babies, and improve the country’s health systems.

According to her, every year, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm and this number is rising. “It is now said to be about 1 in 10 children.”

She stated further that three-quarters of these deaths could be prevented with current and cost-effective interventions.

“Prematurity according to the medical experts is the leading cause of deaths in all children aged less than five years old. Other causes are birth asphyxia (baby not breathing at birth), infections and newborn jaundice complications.

“However, Nigeria in view of its population carries a disproportionate burden with the highest numbers of newborn deaths in Africa and the second highest in the world.

“With early and good antenatal care, some of these conditions can be identified and managed appropriately to prevent preterm delivery,” she said.

Also speaking, the Team Lead, Purple Baby Project and CEO Studio 24, Chris Oputa, said the level of awareness about preterm has not been enough to generate the right action towards prevention.

According to him, people are not likely to produce a positive action without first appreciating the shared size of the problem and will not be able to give support the way they should.

“We believe that if we get the message out properly, we will get people to get involved,” he said.

Also speaking, Consultant Newborn Unit, LUTH, Beatrice Ezenwa, said there was an urgent need to strengthen healthcare systems and provide essential drugs and equipment.

Similarly, she posited that the country has to balance the needs of babies born too soon, too small, or too sick and their families, and institute family centered newborn care in all facilities.

“Prolonged skin to skin care (Kangaroo Mother Care) is an evidenced based low cost innovation that is exceptionally effective. The financial burden is enormous, hence the need to advocate for national health insurance for all mothers and their babies in Nigeria,” she said.