Building political momentum for our babies

The Partners forum will witness the launch of 4 international reports; Every Newborn Action Plan, Countdown to 2015, World Mothers Report and Success Factors. It is expected that the forum will deliberate on these strategic reports and rejuvenate actions and push for an ambitious advocacy to improve health outcomes related to women and children. It […]

The Partners forum will witness the launch of 4 international reports; Every Newborn Action Plan, Countdown to 2015, World Mothers Report and Success Factors. It is expected that the forum will deliberate on these strategic reports and rejuvenate actions and push for an ambitious advocacy to improve health outcomes related to women and children. It is a meeting worth following as many African leaders and Nigerians including our health minister will participate.
The Lancet Every Newborn Series released just few days back finds counting births and deaths is an indicator of progress towards ending 3 million preventable infant deaths. It observed that “each year, 5.5 million babies enter and leave the world without being recorded and one in three newborns—over 45 million babies—do not have a birth certificate by their first birthday. Babies who are stillborn, born too early, or who die soon after birth are least likely to be registered, even in high-income countries.”
Findings from the Series, paint the clearest picture to date of a newborn’s chance of survival and the steps that must be taken to end preventable infant deaths. New analyses indicate that 3 million maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths can be prevented each year with proven interventions—including the promotion of breastfeeding, neonatal resuscitation, kangaroo mother care for preterm babies, antenatal corticosteroids, and the prevention and treatment of infections. These interventions can be implemented for an annual cost of US$1.15 per person. Providing quality care at birth yields a triple return on investment—saving mothers and newborns, and preventing stillbirths while protecting babies from disability.
“Every day, 15,000 babies are born and die without ever receiving a piece of paper. The lack of recording reflects the world’s acceptance that these deaths are inevitable. This fatalism, lack of attention, and lack of investment are the reasons behind lagging progress in reducing newborn deaths – and even slower for progress in reducing stillbirths.
The series also revealed slower progress for newborn survival. Worldwide, nearly 3 million newborns die each year and an additional 2.6 million babies are stillborn. Nearly half of these deaths occur during labour and almost all go unrecorded. If current trends continue, it will be more than 110 years before an African baby has the same chances of survival as a baby born in North America or Europe.
Progress in Africa has been three times slower than what has been achieved in high-income countries, even before the advent of intensive care. Without greater investments to improve birth outcomes around the world, by 2035 there will be 116 million newborn deaths, 31 million surviving babies and children with disabilities, and 68 million with lost development potential because of stunting.
“We have made dramatic progress improving child survival in recent years, but it is clear that newborns have been left behind,” said Dr Mickey Chopra, UNICEF’s Chief of Health. “To continue improving child survival, health, and development, we must now ensure every newborn has a healthy start. Investing in the health and wellbeing of newborns is a down payment on the future.”
The series also captured “Prioritising the day of birth to reduce preventable deaths and disabilities” as follows ; The day of birth is the most dangerous day for women and their babies—resulting in nearly half of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths. Each year, one million babies die on their birth day. It is also the day babies face the greatest risk of disability.
The majority of newborn deaths are preventable, caused by complications related to prematurity, birth, and severe infections. Preterm and small babies are at much higher risk of death and disability, and are at long-term risk of stunting and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension as adults.   
It also highlighted where and when action is needed such as in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. These regions have the highest burden of newborn deaths, with India (779,000), Nigeria (267,000), and Pakistan (202,400) leading the ranks among countries.
These three countries also have the most births and have exhibited the slowest rates of progress in reducing deaths. In 2012, eight of the nine countries with neonatal death rates greater than 40 for every 1,000 live births were in sub-Saharan Africa; half of these countries were affected by conflict.
The greatest opportunity for saving lives is to invest in high impact care during the time just before and immediately after birth. Quality care at birth accounts for 41% of the estimated 3 million lives saved. Providing special care for small and sick newborns accounts for 30%. Additionally, family planning services and meeting the unmet need for family planning would be synergistic by reducing the annual number of births and, therefore, deaths by about half.
The health and wellbeing of women, newborns, and children is closely linked, and they must be prioritised,” said Melinda Gates, co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We have proven solutions that we know will save newborn lives and accelerate progress for women and children, and we have seen that where there is political will around these solutions significant progress is possible.”
It is time to use this evidence and engage our political leaders for a sustained and strategic investment for our babies.
All comments to Dr Aminu Magashi at [email protected] and @AminuMagashiG