World Health Day will be observed on April 7, under the theme ‘My Health, My Right – Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’ to highlight the urgency of reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths and improving women’s long-term health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has made maternal and newborn health a focus for its year-long campaign aimed at enhancing the care provided to mothers and infants. According to a WHO report, around 300,000 women die each year from complications during childbirth. Additionally, more than two million newborns die in their first month of life—equating to one preventable death every seven seconds.
Professor Dr. Anubha Srivastava, head of the Paediatrics Department at Motilal Nehru Medical College, stressed the moral and social responsibility the theme brings to light. “Every newborn has the right to life, and we must ensure they have a safe and healthy start,” she said. Dr. Srivastava also noted that the department provides specialized monitoring and treatment for premature babies, low birth weight infants, and conditions such as birth asphyxia. “Our Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) is continually updated, and staff are trained to follow world-class protocols,” she added.
India’s neonatal mortality rate (NMR) stood at 16.8 per 1,000 live births in 2023, still higher than the global average. Prematurity, infections, and breathing obstructions at birth are major causes of neonatal deaths. Timely diagnosis and effective management of these issues can significantly reduce mortality rates.
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