225,000 babies born prematurely in Uganda

Nov 18, 2016

Health experts are also advocating for use of chlorhexidine gel

About 225,000 Ugandan babies are born premature aanually and up to 9,800 children under five die from complications related to prematurity.

The state minister for primary health care Dr. Joyce Moriku told Journalist at a press conference that prematurity is one of the the leading causes of neonatal mortality and directly responsible for 38% of neonatal deaths.

"To prevent prematurity,there is a strong need that pregnant mothers attend all required antenatal care visits with the first visit starting in the first trimester," Moriku said.

She said the ministry has laid clear goals to reduce the preventable maternal, new-born and child mortality through evidence-based strategies and actions with stronger focus on districts with low coverage.

Health experts are also  advocating for use of chlorhexidine gel commonly known as Umbi-Gel in prevention and control of neonatal infections. The Umbilical cord stump is a major portal of entry of micro-organisms that cause neonatal infections.

World Health Organisation recently approved chlorhexidine gel as an essential lifesaving commodity for cord care in countries with high proportion of home deliveries.

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