In a concerted effort to combat preterm mortality, the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua is intensifying its measures to address the leading cause of neonatal deaths at the facility.
Preterm mortality remains a significant concern globally, particularly for children under the age of 5 years.
The Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua, witnessed a total of 118 premature baby deaths in 2022, showcasing a commendable reduction from the previous year’s figure of 138 in 2021.
Globally, prematurity stands as the primary cause of death in children under 5 years old.
Disparities in survival rates between low-income and high-income countries highlight the crucial role of accessible and cost-effective care.
In low incoming countries, approximately half of babies born at or below 32 weeks face mortality due to a lack of feasible care, such as warmth, breastfeeding support, and basic infection and breathing assistance. Conversely, almost all such babies survive in high-income countries.
Dr. Francis Mensah Akwetey, a Paediatrician at the Eastern Regional Hospital, emphasized the significance of technology and optimal care in middle-income settings to alleviate the burden of disability among surviving preterm babies.
He said the hospital’s efforts to address preterm mortality have shown promising results. In 2020, the facility recorded 138 premature baby mortalities, constituting around 20%.
However, this figure has seen a reduction to 118 in 2022, representing a significant decrease to 11.8%.
As Ghana observes World Prematurity Awareness Month in November, the global theme, “Small actions BIG IMPACT: immediate skin-to-skin care for every baby everywhere,” takes center stage.
The Eastern Regional Hospital is hosting the national launch of the awareness month.
Dr. Augusta Kutor, a Paediatrician, highlighted the game-changing impact of Skin-to-Skin care for preterm babies alongside other interventions in saving lives.
Dr. Winfred Ofosu, Eastern Regional Health Director, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about preterm babies to dispel misconceptions that label such infants as witches, fostering a belief that they should not live.
He expressed gratitude for the intervention of the Kabaka Foundation, which has provided the hospital with an Ultra-Modern Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to further enhance the capacity to save more lives of preterm babies.
Preterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. There are sub-categories of preterm birth, based on gestational age:
extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks)
very preterm (28 to less than 32 weeks)
moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks).
Babies may be born preterm because of spontaneous preterm labour or because there is a medical indication to plan an induction of labour or caesarean birth early.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
