Globally, there has been a remarkable improvement in child survival since 1990, according to a Newborn Care Policy Document (2019-2023) of PATH, an international non-governmental organisation.

PATH is an international NGO that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children.

Under five mortality rates decreased by 58 per cent, from 93 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 39 per 1,000 live births in 2017.

The fall in neonatal mortality, however, has been slower, decreasing from 37 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 18 per 1,000 live births in 2017.

Neonatal mortality constituted around 40 per cent of childhood mortality in 2017.

Ghana

A review of data since the inception of the nation’s first National Newborn Health Strategy and Action Plan (2014-2018) has also shown reduction in the neonatal mortality rate, from 29 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 25 per 1,000 live births in 2017, representing a 14 per cent decrease.

Though the country has made some progress, it is not enough and more must be done to reduce infant mortalities.

Regions

The 2017 evaluation also showed variations within the country, with Greater Accra, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Upper East regions having neonatal mortality rates lower than the national average.

However, the Volta has the highest rate, followed by the Central and Western regions.

Causes of neonatal deaths

Babies pick infections from poorly kept health facilities and home environments and they could easily die.

Pre-maturity is reported to be the most common, constituting about 16 per cent of deaths, with birth asphyxia, 11 per cent and infections 11 per cent of all under five deaths, according to the World Health Organisation.

These are also the three leading causes of neonatal deaths, constituting 34.8 per cent, 23.9 per cent and 23.9 per cent, respectively in the neonatal period.

Policies and Conventions

There is a good legal and broad policy framework for maternal, child and newborn health in the country, which includes the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA1, 2010-2015) and (GSGDA 2, 2014-2017).

Ghana is a signatory to several International Conventions and Treaties for the protection of children – the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and associated policies such as Early Childhood Care and Development Policy, Children’s Act 560, 1998, Gender and Child Policy (2004), and Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Policy (2005).

In addition, the government created a Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs in 2002, renamed as Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in 2019, to guide policy formulation and implementation for the advancement of women and children.

Newborn health falls under the Strategic Health Objective three of the Ministry of Health’s Sector Medium Health Plan 2010-2013, which is to improve access to quality maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent services.

Despite all these and other several interventions, unfortunately, about 70 babies born in Ghana lose their lives every day due to premature births, infections and complications.

The nation’s 2021 birth rate, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) stands at 28.425 live births per 1,000 people, a 1.3 per cent decline from 2020.

Hopes

Thankfully, PATH Ghana, a non-governmental organisation and its partners, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and Kybele, are implementing a project to reduce infant deaths in the country.

Titled “Making Every Baby Count Initiative (MBECI Two) is a continuation of the MBECI one and targets achieving 15 per cent reduction of institutional newborn mortality of inborn neonates in the country by increasing the proportion of deliveries conducted by skilled birth attendants.

Under the project, PATH and its project implementing partners have nationwide advocacy groups – “Newborn Champions”, comprising civil society actors, government functionaries, the media and musicians.

The Newborn Champions remain the ‘voice for newborns” by using platforms available to them and other opportunities that would be created to, among other things, advocate issues on child/newborn health.

They would also reach and influence policy makers and corporate bodies to commit resources to newborn health and also influence parents and the general public to adopt positive practices.

According to Mrs. Patience Dapaah, Advocacy Advisor of PATH Ghana, the MBECI One project implemented between 2013-2018 trained 16 champions in the then Brong-Ahafo, 15 in Ashanti, 16 in Eastern and 12 in Volta regions, as well as 10 champions at the national level.

The MBECI Two, she explained, would build advanced clinical care and operational processes in four Regional Hospitals to care for small and sick newborn and improve staffing, equipment and supplies to support the provision of advanced clinical care.

It would also establish multi-layered data systems at the Regional Hospitals to measure clinical and operational processes and impact and advocate policy and internationally-accepted standards for advanced newborn care.

Way forward

Dr. Prince Quarshie, Deputy Director, Public Health, Bono Regional Health Directorate, has lauded the project and formation of the champion groups, saying the GHS alone could not shoulder the responsibility of reducing infant and child mortality.

He advised traditional authorities, civil society actors, and the media to support the activities of the champions.

Nanahemaa Adjoa Awindor, a lead Newborn Care Champion, has stated infant deaths could be brought under control if pregnant women attended regular antenatal and postnatal clinics and also delivered at hospitals and health facilities.

She advised nursing mothers to take good care of their babies' and asked the champions to intensify advocacy on childcare in their respective communities.

Dr. Samuel Tibil Salamat, a Paediatrician stressed the nation required specially designed ambulances for children to improve on their healthcare and control avoidable deaths.

He underlined the importance for the country to ensure all paediatric centres in the country were furnished with incubators, child monitors and related devices to improve on service delivery.