Nearly 30 million sick and premature newborns need treatment every year

[Inkriql]

Every year, nearly 30 million children are born too early, too young or sick and need specialized care to survive, according to a new report published by a global coalition of which UNICEF and WHO are part.

"In the case of newborns and their mothers, everything depends on receiving the right treatment at the right time and in the right place," said Omar Abdi, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF. "However, millions of small and sick newborns and women die each year simply because they do not receive quality care that they are entitled to receive and that it is our collective responsibility to provide."

The report, entitled "Survive and Thrive: Transforming care for every small and sick newborn" concludes that newborns at higher risk of death and disability are those who suffer complications due to prematurity, brain injuries during childbirth, bacterial infections severe or jaundice, and those with congenital conditions. In addition, the financial and psychological burden they pose to their families can have negative effects on their cognitive, linguistic and emotional development.

"It is essential that all mothers and all newborns can enjoy good health during pregnancy, birth and the first months of life," said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Deputy Director General of Programs at WHO. "Universal health coverage can ensure that all people - including newborns - have access to the health services they need, without having to face financial difficulties." Advances in health care for newborns provide benefits for all, since they save lives and are essential for the development of the child in early childhood, which in turn affects families, society and future generations ".

According to the report, many newborns at risk will not survive their first month of life if they do not receive specialized care. In 2017 about 2.5 million newborns died, in most cases from preventable causes. Nearly two-thirds of infants who die were born prematurely. Even if they survive, these newborns are at risk for chronic diseases and developmental delays. In addition, it is estimated that one million sick and small-sized newborns survive with some long-term disability.

If they receive affective care, these newborns can live without major complications. The report shows that applying smart strategies can save the lives of 2.9 million women, stillbirths and newborns in 81 countries by the year 2030. For example, if the same health team takes care of both the mother and the child During birth, birth and the subsequent period, they can detect problems early on.

In addition, almost 68% of newborn deaths could be avoided by 2030 through simple measures such as exclusive breastfeeding; the contact between the newborn's skin and that of the mother or father; medications and essential equipment; and access to clean and well-equipped health facilities, with qualified health personnel. Other measures, such as resuscitation of newborns who can not breathe properly, administration of an injection to the mother to prevent bleeding, or delay in cutting the umbilical cord, can also save millions of lives.

According to the report, the world will not achieve the goal of health for all unless it transforms the care received by newborns. If there are no rapid advances, some countries will not achieve this goal for another 11 decades.

To save newborns, the report recommends:

- Provide hospital care to newborns 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

- Train nursing staff to provide direct assistance in collaboration with families.

- Harness the power of parents and families by teaching them how to become expert caregivers and caring for newborns, which can reduce stress and help them gain weight and their brain develop properly.

- Integrate the provision of quality care into the policies of the countries, as an investment that will bring benefits throughout life to children born small or sick.

- Carry out a calculation and monitoring of all small and sick newborns, allowing managers to monitor the progress made and improve results.

- Allocate the necessary resources, taking into account that an additional investment of US $ 0.20 cents per person can save 2 out of every 3 newborns in low and middle income countries by the year 2030.

Almost three decades ago, the Convention on the Rights of the Child guaranteed

Almost three decades ago, the Convention on the Rights of the Child guaranteed all newborns the right to the best levels of health care, and the report states that the time has come for countries around the world to allocate the necessary resources at the legislative, medical, human and financial levels to make this desire become a reality for all children.