Training to reduce neonatal mortality rate

LUCKNOW: Training was imparted to medical staff to reduce mortality among new-borns in three districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Under the project ‘saving new born lives through improved management of birth asphyxia’, the training started in Gonda first, followed with Rae Bareli and Aligarh. Reducing the NMR is a challenge for India (35 per 1000 live births) but a greater challenge for Uttar Pradesh as NMR is even higher at 45 per 1,000 ,as per a 2009 survey.

Gonda had neonatal mortality rate (NMR) 53 and in Aligarh it was 47, as per the annual health survey 2010-11. Rae Bareli was added in the project in April 2015. “We have also observed that despite technical knowledge practice was lacking, hence trainers should focus on motivation ”, said mission director, National Health Mission Alok Kumar at a press conference on Saturday.

The focus of this project by Save The Children (STC) was to provide hands on practical training and developing pre and post skill enhancement to handle cases of birth asphyxia of service providers, including medical officers, staff nurses and ANMs. In all, 1,263 staff nurses and ANMs were trained in 56 batches in 34 districts. Impact was observed between October 2014 and February 2017 in Gonda and Aligarh and between April 2015 and February 2017 in Rae Bareli.

In all, 7,599 cases of birth asphyxia (baby not crying after birth and having difficulty in breathing) were reported, 7,587 (99%) cases were attended and 5,234 (69%) new borns were saved.