Jipmer has commenced a week-long public awareness campaign to improve neonatal survival and healthy development as part of National Newborn Week observed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The various events, around this year’s theme of “Newborn safety: Every touch, Every time, Every baby”, seek to reinforce the importance of newborn health, an issue of great relevance in India which has a concerning neonatal mortality rate.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, the neonatal mortality in India is 24.9 deaths per 1,000 live births. The common causes of death in the newborn period are premature birth, sepsis and asphyxia. Essential newborn care, including breastfeeding and simple interventions like kangaroo mother care (KMC) and handwashing to prevent sepsis, can improve neonatal survival, Jipmer said in a press note.
A host of Jipmer departments led by Neonatology, including Nursing, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Pharmacology and Microbiology, are running weeklong activities on varied topics related to newborn health and safety.
The programmes range across health talks, discussions, seminars and hands on training on important interventions like Kangaroo mother care (KMC) targeted at postnatal mothers, attenders and healthcare personnel.
