Fiji Sun

Newborn Death Rates In Pacific A Serious Concern, Says UNICEF

The New Zealand government has announced an extra $US5 million to try and reduce the Pacific’s high newborn mortality rates.

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UNICEF says the rate of newborn deaths in Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and the Federated States of Micronesia remains alarmingly high.

A new report shows newborns from the world’s riskiest places to give birth are up to 50 times more likely to die than those from the safest places.

UNICEF said in PNG, one in 43 babies born does not survive followed closely by Kiribati, with one in 44.

The rate is one in 58 for the Federated States of Micronesia and one in 85 in Vanuatu.

The report showed Tonga doing best among Pacific island countries with a rate of one in 147.

The rate in Fiji is one in 114. UNICEF Pacific Representa­tive Sheldon Yett said throughout the Pacific newborn mortality rates remain a serious concern. “UNICEF is working with government­s around the region to improve the quality of care for newborn babies and to ensure that all babies, no matter where they are born, receive the vital care they need in those first few days to survive,” said Mr Yett. A shortage of midwives, clean water and good nutrition are among reasons for high mortality rates.

Increased New Zealand funding for child mortality in the Pacific

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced an extra $US5 million (FJ$10m) to try and reduce the Pacific’s high newborn mortality rates.

The new funding will target Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Vanuatu which have some of the highest death rates of newborns. Nearly 1700 children under five years of age died in the Pacific in 2016. More than 80 per cent of those children died within their first year of life and half of those children died in their first 28 days.

Mr Peters says it will go towards improving child health policies and services such as newborn care, immunisati­on and nutrition that are “both high impact and low-cost”. The funding will also go towards increasing communitie­s’ awareness of risks to child health and improving practices. The funding will continue to support UNICEF as a long-standing partner of the New Zealand Aid Programme with considerab­le child health expertise in the Pacific and globally.

New Zealand has been providing support to UNICEF under the Pacific Maternal Newborn and Child Health Initiative since 2014, working closely to develop areas of focus, countries to target and interventi­ons to be supported.

 ??  ?? UNICEF Pacific Representa­tive Sheldon Yett said throughout the Pacific newborn mortality rates remain a serious concern.
UNICEF Pacific Representa­tive Sheldon Yett said throughout the Pacific newborn mortality rates remain a serious concern.

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