By: Salman Yousafzai
PESHAWAR: Health experts during a seminar on Sunday said that Pakistan has recently seen an alarming surge in newborn deaths during childbirth and urged the community to play its due role to control the rising deaths of newborns.
Health experts expressed these views during a seminar which was organised by the Pakistan Neonatal Resuscitation Program held in Peshawar on Sunday.
They emphasised that the first minute of a child’s birth, which is called the golden minute, is very critical and decisive. “If a trained doctor, nurse or staff member takes the right and timely action, the life of the newborn can be saved,” Professor Doctor Saima said.
Dr Saima added that if the baby breathes immediately after birth, his life can be saved, but due to the lack of trained staff, 39 out of every 100 babies lose their lives.
Dr Saima said that for the first time in history, this course was being organised in Peshawar to increase the capacity of doctors and nurses to reduce the mortality rate of newborn babies. She further elaborated that Pakistan has currently come third in the world due to the high rate of child mortality, which is alarming.
Dr Saima stressed that it is a crucial time to spread awareness and ensure the presence of trained staff at every birth. If the training continues, neonatal mortality could be significantly reduced.
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