Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most dangerous region in the world for a baby to be born. 1.16 million babies die each year in the first 28 days of life. Even more surprising news is that half a million African babies die on the day they are born. Half of Africa’s 1.16 million newborn deaths occur in just five countries – Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda. Among many countries in Africa, Liberia has the world’s highest newborn mortality rate at 66 deaths per 1,000 births compared to less than 2 deaths per 1,000 in Japan. From this data we can conclude that newborn deaths occur in developing countries. However, according to Dr Francisco Songnore, director of the partnership, we can decrease the newborn mortality rate even in developing countries with the existing programs. For example two-thirds of women in Africa attend antenatal care yet only 10% receive preventive treatment for malaria and a mere 1% of mothers with HIV receive the recommended treatment to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV/ AIDS. The report found that two-thirds of newborn deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa – up to 800,000 babies a year – could be saved if 90% of women and babies received feasible, low-cost health intervention.
It is important to count newborn deaths and make them count, instead of accepting these deaths as inevitable. As Dr Songnore pointed out, we can save many infants without spending lots of money but with just preventive treatment for malaria and women with HIV receiving the recommended treatment to prevent transmission of HIV. This is one of the reason why education is important in every international health issues that people cannot use what they can use without knowing what they are needed. We also need to care more about women who are pregnant and try to make better environment for those women, which will also decrease the infant mortality rates.
Undeveloped countries in sub-Saharan Africa can barely even afford the healthcare supplies they need to take care of everyone. Even if they did, it doesn't take away from the fact that women that need that healthcare can't always get to hospitals or can't even afford what they need. It only costs $40 for the medication to prevent mothers from passing on HIV to their children during birth; the treatment is 98% effective too. This $40 now can prevent so many more infections and in the end, we could supply $40 once, instead of $150 a year for antiretrovirals to keep those people alive.
ReplyDeleteSuch a small intervention would save many from suffering, but would also be a smart economic move. These people will live healthier, will be able to work, and will be able to put money back into the economy. Along with a little push from foreign aid groups and implementation of mandatory primary education, many undeveloped countries in Sub-Saharan Africa could be on the path towards development.
It is exactly as you have said. We need to realise the importance of each death. We cannot dismiss these deaths and say having more babies will increase the chances of one surviving. We need to figure out why these infants are dying in the first place, and then do all we can to prevent it.
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