Health experts at a post-rally discussion have stressed ensuring proper maternal, newborn and child health services to further reduce the neonatal death rate to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
They expressed the view in the discussion organised by the civil surgeon’s office in the conference room of Sadar Hospital in Rangpur on Wednesday afternoon to launch the ‘National Newborn Health Programme’ in the district.
Sadar Upazila Health Complex, LAMB A2H Project, LAMB Hospital, Deep Eye Care Foundation, World Vision Bangladesh, Community Eye Care and Research Centre, BRAC, Light House, Family Planning Association of Bangladesh, Save the Children and other organisations extended assistance in arranging the programmes.
Earlier, a rally was brought out on the city streets with participation of physicians, nurses and health care providers, civil society members, teachers, students and common people.
Deputy director of the Department of Family Planning Dr Sheikh Md Shahidul Islam attended the discussion as the chief guest with Deputy civil surgeon of Rangpur Dr Kaniz Fatema in the chair.
Health and Family Planning Officer of Rangpur Sadar Upazila Health Complex Dr Rabi Sankar Mandal addressed the occasion as the special guest.
Dr Rabi Sankar said Bangladesh is one of the few countries in South Asia which has significantly decreased the mortality of children under the age of five years to attain the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 well before the deadline.
“However, neonatal deaths during first 28 days after birth still account for 61 per cent of all deaths of children under-five. Thus, the reduction of neonatal mortality has not been able to keep pace with the realisation of achievements like MDG 4,” he said.
Dr Kaniz Fatema said the government of Bangladesh is committed to preventing neonatal mortality by 57 per cent, from 28 deaths per 1000 live births to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030 on way to attain the SDGs.
She put emphasis on conducting deliveries at hospitals and other places having adequate facilities and necessary interventions to prevent newborn deaths which occur mainly due to prematurity, birth asphyxia and infections, reports BSS.
The chief guest put emphasis on a better coordination among the public and private organisations to focus on the process of delivering quality health services to manage maternal and neonatal complications for averting neonatal deaths.
