As MDG deadline nears, PH urged to cut down deaths among newborns


By: Tricia Aquino, InterAksyon.com
August 18, 2014 10:33 PM
AFP file photo.
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines - On Monday, the 500th day before the end of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, an international nonprofit group said the Philippines might miss its MDG target in reducing the mortality rate of newborn children. 
In a statement, Save the Children said that while the Philippines had improved in bringing down infant mortality and under five mortality rates, "there has been little progress in cutting down neonatal mortality, which makes up almost half of all under-five deaths.”
Neonatal mortality rate refers to the number of newborns dying before reaching their 28th day per 1,000 live births in a given year. 
The Philippines was able to reduce infant mortality rate from 57 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 25 in 2008, and under five mortality rate from 80 in 1990 to 34 in 2008, based on data from the United Nations Development Programme. 
According to data from the World Health Organization, 40,000 newborns die in the Philippines yearly due to preventable causes such as complications of prematurity (41 percent); severe infection (16 percent) and birth asphyxia (15 percent). WHo said most deaths occur within the first two days of the life of the baby. 
The regions with the highest neonatal mortality rates are Region XI (Davao); Region VI (Western Visayas) and Region II (Cagayan Valley), according to Save the Children.  
Save the Children’s Typhoon Haiyan Disaster Response national media manager April May Sumaylo attributed the high neonatal mortality rates in the said areas to the regions’ poverty levels, low human development index, disaster vulnerability, and presence of armed conflict.
"Extreme natural disasters are also likely to contribute to deaths among newborn babies due to collapse of health systems and unhygienic conditions in the aftermath of an emergency," the organization said in its statement. 
Earlier this year, Save the Children did a study that reveals that Philippines is one of the top 10 countries in the world with the greatest gap in equality for newborn deaths between poorest and wealthiest, and between rural and urban households. 
It said that, "Babies born to the poorest and hardest to reach groups are most at risk of dying within few days after birth."
As the MDG deadline nears, Save the Children is urging the Philippine government "to address inequality in newborn deaths and its underlying causes, particularly lack of skilled health personnel in the rural areas to provide quality health services and guide new mothers on breastfeeding."
It said that studies have shown that early breastfeeding may reduce almost a quarter of newborn deaths, and may help cut down at least 75 per cent of deaths from diarrhea and pneumonia. 
“Life is at its most fragile in the first few days after birth. Newborns require healthcare, and life-saving interventions before during and after emergencies," said Dr. Amado Parawan, health and nutrition advisor of Save the Children. 
"It is not impossible to reach the MDG target on child deaths but the country needs to urgently invest in lifesaving neonatal interventions and prepare the health system to provide care during disasters," he added. 
Save the Children is urging the national and local governments, civil society, funding agencies, and private sector to commit to the following:
  • Fast-track the Infant and Young Child Feeding guidelines and Policy on Integrated Management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition and Severe Acute Malnutrition, for both development and humanitarian settings.
  • Increase LGU investments for health to trainings, improvement of health facilities, and increase the number of health work frontliners and human resources directly involved in the implementation and monitoring of policies related to newborn and child survival.
  • Include the coverage for premature births in the national health insurance program.
  • Enforce the Mother and Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative in all hospitals with maternity services.


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