Asaba – The Federal Government on Saturday expressed readiness to address neonatal deaths challenge and promote effective application of life saving neonatal commodities “Chlorhexiden” for women and children in the county.
Mrs Evelyn Agbanyim, the Coordinator, Health Promotion Division, Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja made this known in Asaba.
Agbanyim said they were in Asba to sensitise stakeholders on the need for adequate funding and effective application of life saving neonatal commodities “Chlorhexiden” for women and children.
Agbanyim, who led a team of medical personnel to the state, said that the team would meet with stakeholders to create advocacy on the use of neonatal commodities to prevent neonatal deaths.
She described neonatal death as such deaths that occurs within few weeks or months after a child has been successfully delivered.
This she attributed to negligence on the part of the parents for failing to apply the right medication on or before a child was born.
She said that her team had been in the state for three days meeting with various groups to ensure that neonatal mortality was reduced to a bearable minimum in the state.
According to her, the report received from the Delta Primary Health Care Development Agency revealed that no fewer than 220 neonatal deaths were recorded in Oshimili South Local Government Area alone in 2014.
She noted that the mortality rate was alarming if only one Local Government Area (LGA) out of 25 in the state could record 220 neonatal deaths in a year.
Agbanyim added that neonatal deaths were preventable if the right medication were applied to the mother and the child.
The team leader said though that the case of neonatal death has remained high in the country.
According to her, efforts made to check the trend in the last ten years are slow due to skills gap, poor referral network, activities of traditional birth attendance and traditional beliefs among others.
“The neonatal commodities are four; the Antenatal Corticosteriods is giving to pregnant woman at risk of delivering prematurely aimed at strengthening the lungs of the premature baby.
“Four per cent Chlorhexiden Gel is used for umbilical cord care within two hours of the child delivery to prevent contamination by germ until the cord cuts off.
“We also have the injectable antibiotics aimed at preventing neonatal deaths and the last is the resuscitation devices to check asphyxia (difficulties in breathing) in newly born babies,” she explained.
She noted that the only way to achieve success in reducing neonatal deaths was for all stakeholders to partner, ensure adequate funding and effective application of the life saving commodities for women and children.
“We are creating awareness on these commodities and of the four, only Chlorhexiden is the only new product and others are currently being underutilized even though they are very affordable.
“So, the stakeholders should ensure adequate supply of the commodities and increased demand for them to promote better health for our children and reduce neonatal mortality in the country,” Agbanyim said.
Some of the stockholders who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) called for grassroots sensitisation by government and private individuals since this bothers on life saving.
Dr Ngozi Orofuke, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, called on the hospital and health personnel to have a change of attitude towards patients, especially with pregnant women.
Orofuke also noted that most parents were not receptive to change, adding that adequate sensitisation was needed while adequate training should be giving to hospital workers to enhance their ability to accept a change.
“We need to use every available medium including the social medium, the traditional gongs and the town criers where necessary to reach the people at the grassroots.
“Beside, government can partner the Nollywood industry platform to send this vital information to the people since most Nigerians no longer listen to local news but glue to their home videos via cables networks,” she said.
Mrs Stella Macaulay, Orientation Officer, State Ministry of Information, called for sacrifice by private individuals to support government in procuring these life saving commodities to ensure that neonate deaths were reduced. (NAN)