RANGPUR, Sept 06, 2018 (BSS)-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 here 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 percent 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 percent, 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.
The chief guest put emphasis on a better coordination among the public and
private organizations to focus on the process of delivering quality health
services to manage maternal and neonatal complications for averting neonatal
deaths.