Death of Infants is Unacceptable : Job Zachariah [ Chief of UNICEF, Jharkhand ]

Ranchi, Jharkhand, 14 November 2014 :: Job Zachariah, Chief of UNICEF in Jharkhand said that death of an infant is the biggest tragedy in a family and it is unacceptable. He was speaking at a meeting organized here today ( which coincides with the children’s day), to mark the newborn care week beginning from 15 November 2014.

There are eight globally proven strategies to prevent death of new born babies. “These include ensuring deliveries in hospitals, addressing anaemia among pregnant women by giving them 100 iron tablets and setting up special new born care units in hospitals for pre-term born babies. Other strategies include promoting home based new born care practices, breast feeding within one hour of birth, and exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of birth. Preventing child marriage and early pregnancy and promoting girls’ education will also lead to prevention of deaths of new born babies”, Mr Zachariah added.

Mr. Zachariah sought the support of self-help groups of NGOs to prevent death of new born babies. “There are 30,000 SHGs with about 4 lakh members in Jharkhand. If members of these self-help groups adopt the proven strategies in their families, death of many babies can be prevented”, he said.

Dr. Sumant Mishra, Director-in-chief of Health Services gave simple tips to parents for keeping babies healthy. “Babies should not be given bath in the first seven days. Instead, they should be wiped with soft cloth. They should be kept close to the chest of parents for maintaining temperature and head and feet of the babies should be covered. Mothers and others taking care of babies should wash hands with soap” he said.

The major causes for death of new born babies include complications due to pre-term birth – 35%, asphyxia (baby not breathing at birth) -20%, infection/sepsis – 15% and pneumonia – 16%.

Dr. Madhulika Jonathan ( Health specialist of UNICEF ), Dr. Hembrom (IEC Cell), Dr. Deepawali ( Nodal officer of child death review), Dr. Ashraf, Ms. Sonali Mukherjee ( communication for development officer of UNICEF ), and representatives of NGOs like Mahila Samakhya, SIGN, Ekjut, LEAD, DEVNET, CINI, Lok Prerna and Gram Vikas, also attended among others.