UNICEF and WHO join forces to save
children in Ethiopia
7 October, 2009 | By Desalegne Sisay
UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) have come
together in an unprecedented effort to curb climbing death rates among
Ethiopian newborns, due to poor facilities and treatments found in
Hospitals across the country.
The causes are easily preventable, but with only 40 per cent of all
health centers and hospitals in Ethiopia having the facilities capable of
providing essential care, up to 300 newly born children die each day in
the Eastern African country.
The two international organizations in collaboration with the Ethiopian
Ministry of Health have launched a Newborn Corner Initiative that aims
to curb the tragic situation. The center “will address gaps in preventing
newborn morbidity and mortality in the country thereby ensuring
standard newborn care immediately after birth in health facilities”, Ted
Chaiban, Country Representative of UNICEF said at the launching
ceremony.
Although newborn care techniques usually require expensive equipment
and complex manipulations, most of the cases at a basic Newborn
Corner will ensure that a child receives the best possible care. A
newborn corner requires key elements including, among other things,
trained personnel, a warm and clean surface close to a water source as
well as a well-lit area. Also, of utmost necessity are essential newborn
resuscitation and care equipment and supplies, the report reads.
The basic newborn corner initiative will be undertaken at selected
health centers and hospitals across Ethiopia until end of 2009.
Ethiopia is one of six countries where more than half of the world’s
child deaths occur. A recent report released by Save the Children
names the six countries with the highest infant mortality rates as; India,
Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan and China.
One in eight Ethiopian children die before reaching their 5th birthday,
and 120,000 children die during the first month of life, often for
treatable diseases like measles, pneumonia, birth and post natal
complications, malaria, and diarrhea, with the last four ranking among
top four child killer diseases.
Courtesy
children in Ethiopia
7 October, 2009 | By Desalegne Sisay
UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) have come
together in an unprecedented effort to curb climbing death rates among
Ethiopian newborns, due to poor facilities and treatments found in
Hospitals across the country.
- According to a report released by
UNICEF on October 6, 2009, the
responsible causes of the climbing
child death rate in Ethiopia include,
the inability of health centers and
hospitals in keeping newborns
warm, preventing infection and
ensuring successful neonatal
resuscitation, when necessary.
“Asphyxiation alone accounts for
23% of all neonatal deaths,” the
report said.
The causes are easily preventable, but with only 40 per cent of all
health centers and hospitals in Ethiopia having the facilities capable of
providing essential care, up to 300 newly born children die each day in
the Eastern African country.
The two international organizations in collaboration with the Ethiopian
Ministry of Health have launched a Newborn Corner Initiative that aims
to curb the tragic situation. The center “will address gaps in preventing
newborn morbidity and mortality in the country thereby ensuring
standard newborn care immediately after birth in health facilities”, Ted
Chaiban, Country Representative of UNICEF said at the launching
ceremony.
Although newborn care techniques usually require expensive equipment
and complex manipulations, most of the cases at a basic Newborn
Corner will ensure that a child receives the best possible care. A
newborn corner requires key elements including, among other things,
trained personnel, a warm and clean surface close to a water source as
well as a well-lit area. Also, of utmost necessity are essential newborn
resuscitation and care equipment and supplies, the report reads.
The basic newborn corner initiative will be undertaken at selected
health centers and hospitals across Ethiopia until end of 2009.
Ethiopia is one of six countries where more than half of the world’s
child deaths occur. A recent report released by Save the Children
names the six countries with the highest infant mortality rates as; India,
Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan and China.
One in eight Ethiopian children die before reaching their 5th birthday,
and 120,000 children die during the first month of life, often for
treatable diseases like measles, pneumonia, birth and post natal
complications, malaria, and diarrhea, with the last four ranking among
top four child killer diseases.
Courtesy
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