By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Nov. 22, GNA – Dr Nana Esi Gaisie-Tetteh, the Public Health Director of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital says three -quarters of deaths due to prematurity are preventable.
She noted that to be born earlier than expected could present its own battles for survival that must be fought fiercely by babies, parents, families and healthcare professionals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that one in 10 babies are born too early globally.
Dr. Gaisie-Tetteh, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said research and technology has made it possible for babies born too soon (preterm) to survive by ensuring the best possible prevention, treatment, care and support.
The Public Health expert revealed that each year, over 13 million children are born premature globally, adding that, “this issue demands attention because prematurity (and its complications) is the leading cause of mortality among children under five years of age.
“To ensure quality care, great efforts are made to develop national guidelines, Health care workers must adhere to these guidelines and not ignore them under the pretext that “this is how it has always been done”, the Child Development Expert added.
“Preterm birth is associated with major illnesses, disability and developmental delays”.
“In adulthood, persons born prematurely are not spared. They are at a higher risk of suffering chronic illnesses. This explains why access to quality care for preemies and their families is paramount.”
She said: “the earlier a baby is born, the more intense the care must be. In low-income countries like Ghana, it is reported that nearly half of all the babies born about two months before their due date die, and it is in such places that majority of premature births occur too.
“But this is not so in high-income countries where all the babies born at such a time survive.”
Meanwhile, the “quality of healthcare borders on ensuring that premature babies do not suffer more harm in the course of their care…. Skilled workers must also be distributed equally across the Regions, paths of referral must be very clear if the need to refer arises, while communication and an effective transport system must be assured to facilitate this important intervention.”
Dr. Gaisie-Tetteh called also for patient-centered care, an aspect of quality care, also demanding that respectful and responsive care that matched the preferences, needs and values of the client was considered during the care of premature babies.
GNA