By: Mohamed Sahr
Ministry of Health in partnership with UNICEF and Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) commemorated world prematurity day marked to improve the healthcare of premature babies and raise awareness to reducing child mortality rate with theme “Championing quality care for every premature newborn.”
The event was graced at the Princess Christian Memory Hospital (PCMH) and the Old During Children’s Hospital in Freetown on Wednesday 27th November 2024.
In his keynote address, Dr. Alie Wurie, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Public Health said the reminiscences the efforts taking by mothers and medical practitioners and donor partners to minimizing child mortality with focus on neo-natal deaths. Stating that ministry had established specialized baby care unit for premature babies across fourteen districts with the exception of Falaba and Karene districts. Adding that however, plans are underway for the two districts to have the same facility.
He mentioned that the ministry trained specialized personnel on critical paediatric and neo-natal care in order to take care of premature babies and enhance their wellbeing as they ensure increase in their survival rate of 94%.
Dr. Wurie said despite challenges to attain the survival rate at some districts, but they would continue to acquire an average of 85%. “We would ensure to reduce drastically the number of child mortality especially premature babies by making sure that we bring more smiles to the parents,” he said.
Liv Elin Indreiten, UNICEF Deputy Representative said with support from the Government of United Kingdom, USA and China, they would ensure that preterm babies receive the specialized they need across the country.
She mentioned that more than 9,000 babies have successfully been admitted and discharged from these facilities, and eight out of ten have survived. Madam Indreiten added that these lifesaving facilities remain not just places of treatment, but sanctuaries of survival, where dedicated healthcare workers provide lifesaving interventions and families find the support they needed.
She said the effort underscores commitment to every child everywhere having a fair chance at life. Alluding that it is also about ensuring that no family feels alone on the journey and every baby, no matter how small, is celebrated as a precious gift.
Madam Indreiten stated that with support from the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), UNICEF completed the first set of training for some nurses working at the facilities. “These nurses have been empowered with more than professional skills for one year, graduated from the course, and are back implementing their newly acquired skills,” she said.
Dr. Tom Sesay, Director, Reproductive and Child Health at the Ministry of Health said systems are in place for preterm babies where they can grow well and become responsible citizens.
Dr. Ronita Luke, Consultant Paediatrician at the Ola During Children’s Hospital outlined the significant impact of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) as a strong intervention to the growth and survival of premature babies. She added that this intervention was traced more forty years ago in a small village in Colombia.
Dr. Luke said the research brought about positive outcome for preterm survival. However, Sierra Leone has implemented this new phenomenon through capacity building together with dedicated space. She revealed that neo-natal death as per 2016 was 34% which has dropped to 31% per 1,000 births in the past 2024.