Prematurity leads to long-term disability in 1 million newborns yearly : WHO

According to a new joint report by UNICEF and WHO an estimated 1 million small and sick newborns survive with a long-term disability. This is out of about 30 million babies who are born too soon, too small or become sick every year and need specialized care to survive.

According to the report, the world will not achieve the global target to achieve health for all unless it transforms care for every newborn. Without rapid progress, some countries will not meet this target for another 11 decades.

Among the newborn babies, the risk of death and disability is prevalent among those with complications from prematurity, brain injury during childbirth and severe bacterial infection or jaundice, according to the reports from the upcoming publication Survive and thrive: transforming care for every small and sick newborn.

The report says that without specialized treatment, many at-risk newborns won’t survive their first month of life, according. In 2017, some 2.5 million newborns died, mostly from preventable causes. Almost two-thirds of babies who died were born prematurely. And even if they survive, these babies face chronic diseases or developmental delays.

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With nurturing care, these babies can live without major complications. The report shows that by 2030, in 81 countries, the lives of 2.9 million women, stillborns and newborns can be saved with smarter strategies. For example, if the same health team cares for both mother and baby through labour, birth and beyond, they can identify problems early on.

In addition, almost 68 per cent of newborn deaths could be averted by 2030 with simple fixes such as exclusive breastfeeding; skin-to-skin contact between the mother or father and the baby; medicines and essential equipment; and access to clean, well-equipped health facilities staffed by skilled health workers. Other measures like resuscitating a baby who cannot breathe properly, giving the mother an injection to prevent bleeding, or delaying the cutting of the umbilical cord could also save millions.

According to the report, the following are the recommendations to save the newborn:

• Providing round-the-clock inpatient care for newborns seven days a week.


• Training nurses to provide hands-on care working in partnership with families.


• Harnessing the power of parents and families by teaching them how to become expert caregivers and care for their babies, which can reduce stress, help babies gain weight and allow their brains to develop properly.


• Providing good quality of care should be a part of country policies and a lifelong investment for those who are born small or sick.


• Counting and tracking every small and sick newborn allows managers to monitor progress and improve results.


• Allocating the necessary resources, as an additional investment of US$ 0.20 cents per person can save 2 of every 3 newborns in low- and middle-income countries by 2030.

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“For every mother and baby, a healthy start from pregnancy through childbirth and the first months after birth is essential,” said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Deputy Director General for Programmes at WHO. “Universal health coverage can ensure that everyone – including newborns – has access to the health services they need, without facing financial hardship. Progress on newborn health care is a win-win situation – it saves lives and is critical for early child development thus impacting on families, society, and future generations.”

For full information log on to https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/13-12-2018-nearly-30-million-sick-and-premature-newborns-in-dire-need-of-treatment-every-year