Can prevent newborns deaths with effective interventions: Waheed Malik

QUETTA: Secretary Health Balochistan Mudassir Waheed Malik has said most of these newborns deaths can be prevented if mothers and newborns receive known, effective interventions and timely services.

This he said while speaking at the launching ceremony of ‘Newborn Survival Stra­tegy’ jointly organised by the Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH) programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) at a local hotel in Quetta.

The provincial health secretary said that newborn survival stra­tegy will support in improvement to avoidable neonatal mortality rates in Balochistan.

He said Pakistan has the worst neonatal mortality rates in the world, added that Balochistan is also contributing quite a number of newborn deaths.

Mudassir Waheed further said the provincial government is dedicated towards the progress of health status of the people with a clear-cut focus on maternal, newborn and children less than five years of age, for this intention provincial the MNCH programme is working closely with the development partners, and other sectors.

Meanwhile, provincial coordinator MNCH programme, Dr Ismail Mirwani Maternal in formed newborn and child health indicators are the worst in the province.

He said the maternal mortality ratio (when mothers die due to pregnancy or delivery complications) is 785/100,000 live births, neonatal mortality ratio (when a newborn dies within first 28 days of life) is 34/1,000 live births and the child mortality ratio (under one-year deaths) is 66/1,000 live births.

Moreover, deliveries support by skilled birth attendants is only 38 per cent. He said it is appreciatable that Unicef is contributing to saving precious lives of newborns.

Unicef’s country head Aida Grima said the first and foremost right of every newborn is to survive, to be held by the mother in her arms and feel that most important emotional connect.

She added, therefore, the death of a child due to causes that are preventable is completely unacceptable. She further added yet, in a single day more than 70 newborns die in Pakistan due to preventable causes.

Pakistan to the list of countries which bears the burden of most neonatal deaths. It is essential to emphasise that evidence-based cost-effective interventions are accessible and can help in reducing the main causes of newborn mortality.

The training of public and private health service provides in the latest techniques and processes, improving clinical case management and ensuring regular supply of critical medicines.