Ill-equipped hospitals fail to take care of babies after birth
Around 85 per cent newborn babies in Nuapada and 50 per cent in Kandhamal usually die in the first week of their birth, said a study on neonatal death in the State conducted by NGO Save the Children.
Unveiling the report here on Friday, Save the Children State programme manager Sasanka Kumar Padhi stated that out of 28 neonatal deaths during 2012 in Boden block of Nuapada district, more than 50 per cent of births occurred at Community Health Centres (CHCs). Similarly, in Phiringia block of Kandhamal district, out of 12 neonatal deaths during 2012, five babies were delivered in CHCs. Why they died was they were released home from the hospital before the recommended time of 48 hours because of lack of facility and doctors for the postnatal care, the Padhi said.
Neonates die within a week due to inability of the public health facility to stabilise them; discharge them before 48 hours due to non-availability of doctor and because babies subjected to ‘jhaad-phoonk’ at home, Padhi added.
“The Government schemes and programmes should be more children centric. The School Management Committees should ensure active participation of children. At the same time, perspective of children should reflect in every schemes connected with kids,” opined Padhi.
The study recommended that ANMs and ASHAs must be trained into resuscitation and stabilisation procedures, so that they can save lives of newborns at least up to the time they reach a well-equipped health facility. There is an urgent need to educate health care providers as well as the families about various aspects of postnatal care. Hospital staff must be asked to ensure recommended 48-hour postnatal stay and educate families about care that should be offered to a mother and a newborn for a period of 28 days, it added.
Among others, State Family Welfare department Director Dr Nirmala Kumari Dei, AMS Director Dr AK Dwivedi, Save the Children’s team members Prasann Thatte, Pradeep Mishra and Santanu Chakraborty shared their views.
