The Eastern Regional Hospital recorded 118 premature baby deaths in 2022, a commendable reduction from 138 recorded in 2021.
This follows a committed culture of attitude among both practitioners and non-practitioners of the hospital to combat preterm mortality, which has been the leading cause of neo-natal deaths at the facility.
Globally, prematurity stands as the primary cause of death in children under five years due to disparity in the survival rates between low-income and high-income countries highlights 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 Pediatrician at the Eastern Regional Hospital, emphasised the significance of technology and optimal care in middle-income settings to alleviate the burden of disability among surviving preterm babies.
He made the observation during the launch of this year’s World Prematurity Awareness Month, which is always observed in November every year.
The global theme for this year’s celebration was “Small Actions Big Impact: Immediate skin-to-skin Care for Every Baby Everywhere,” which takes center stage.
According to him, the game-changing impact of Skin-to-Skin care for preterm babies alongside other interventions in saving lives could not be underestimated.
On his part, the Eastern Regional Health Director, Dr. Winfred Ofosu, emphasised the importance of raising awareness about preterm babies to dispel misconceptions that labeled such infants as witches, fostering a belief that they should not live.
He expressed gratitude for the intervention of the Kabaka Foundation, which had provided the hospital with an ultra-modern Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to further enhance the capacity to save more lives of preterm babies.
