FACILITY-BASED NEWBORN CARE

One of the major challenges in the health sector has been high neonatal mortality. Only five countries account for more than half of the world’s 3.3 million newborn deaths viz., India, Nigeria, Pakistan and China, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. India carries the highest share of neonatal deaths in the world and contributes around a quarter of neonatal deaths. Of the 26 million babies born in India, every year one million babies die before the age of one month.

The major causes of neonatal deaths are Infections such as Pneumonia, Sepsis, and Umbilical Cord infection; Prematurity i.e birth of newborn before 37 weeks of gestation and Asphyxia i.e. inability to breathe immediately after birth and leads to lack of oxygen. Leading causes of death in children under-5 years are preterm birth complications, pneumonia, birth asphyxia, diarrhea, and malaria.

By addressing the most common risk factors for neonatal and child mortality with prevention methods Himachal Pradesh Government has taken many steps:

• 16 Special Newborn care corners established.

• 124 Newborn Care corners established in delivery points.

• 51 Newborn stabilization units have been established.

• 15 Kangaroo Mother Care has been established in SNCUs in order to reduce morbidity and mortality among LBW babies.

• Child Death Review is being done regularly in order to find the causes of death in under-five children.

• 8 Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres have been established.