New born babies in Zimbabwe are to get better access to essential after-birth care and basic life support due to a $431 210 funded project from Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) International.
“This one year project will be implemented in 20 district hospitals in Zimbabwe for future replication in all healthcare facilities,” said a UNICEF spokesperson.
Neo-natal deaths (that is deaths occurring in the first 28 days of life) make up the biggest proportion of death in children under five-years-old. UNICEF says that most of these deaths are preventable through interventions that address unsafe delivery environments, delays in seeking skilled healthcare, poor antenatal surveillance and poor post natal care.
“These are high impact and cost effective preventive and curative interventions that can address the major killers of newborns such as provision of essential newborn care immediately after birth, keeping newborns warm, cord care, resuscitation of asphyxiated newborns, early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding and early identification and treatment of newborn infection,” the spokesperson added.
