No fewer than one million premature
babies die annually due to complications, the founder of Abiye Maternal
and Child Health International Foundation (AMCH), Dr Elizabeth Disu, has
said......
Disu, according to a statement on
Wednesday, stated this at the AMCH World Prematurity Day celebration in
Ikeja, Lagos, adding that prematurity was one of the leading causes of
newborn deaths in the world.
“Prematurity is the most single cause of
newborns deaths. About 15 million preterm babies are delivered
worldwide, out of which one million die and three quarters of the deaths
are preventable. Most of these deaths are in the developing countries.
“Nigeria has the highest number of
preterm babies and the highest number of newborn deaths in the world.
If preterm babies survived, we will be able to reduce the rate of
neonatal deaths in this country,” she said.
Disu explained that the World
Prematurity Day was celebrated worldwide to bring awareness about babies
that were born prematurely, adding that the babies had special problems
and needs, as they could end up with disabilities if not properly
managed.
Also speaking, Prof. Omotunde Sagoe, a
professor of primatology, said, “Prematurity is a mixed situation
because the babies come out of the womb before the duration. Many of
them come out dead and many also come out alive. To reduce incidence of
premature babies and their deaths in Nigeria, their cases have to be
managed properly.”
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr
Jide Idris, said the government was desirous of reducing deaths of
preterm babies in the state.
Idris, who was represented by Dr
Victoria Omoera, of the Maternal and Prenatal Deaths Surveillance and
Response unit, Ministry of Health, said, “We want our mothers and
children to survive. We need to build up capacity in terms of personnel
to take care of these babies.”
No comments: