By: Mohamed Sahr mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
In a bid to supporting and saving the lives of newborns through skin-to-skin mother care, Ministry of Health and partners commemorated 2023 World Prematurity Day with theme ‘Small action Big Impact’ on Friday 17th November 2023 at the Sierra Bay, Aberdeen Freetown.
Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, Deputy Minister two of Ministry of Health said World Prematurity Day is a testament of President Bio’s commitment to prioritize the lives of newborn babies across the country; noting that the government has done a lot in providing the appropriate infrastructure to ensure that special baby care facilities are up and running with equitable distribution.
She added that with support from partners, the Ministry wouldn’t continue to provide affordable special care for newborn babies in the country. Dr. Jalikatu urged mothers to remain committed in providing special care for their babies from the Kangaroo mother care. “Our Ministry and partners will continue to strengthen the facilities that have been provided for ensuring the needs of families and newborns,” Deputy Minister of Health two said.
She thanked the Government of Sierra Leone and development partners for making the work easy for the ministry.
Dr. Mustapha Kabba, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Ministry of Health said the celebration refocuses the preparedness of the Ministry’s vision in managing and preventing the issues around premature newborns. He mentioned that the ministry would continue to work with development partners in order to ensure that the problems are solved. “The Government of Sierra Leone a lot of facilities alongside quality measures to curtain the problems,” Dr. Mustapha said.
He continued that the ministry has overtime provided training facilities for highly qualified pediatricians in order to work in the special baby care units in the country. Dr. Mustapha revealed that through the training programs, the ministry has an equitable distribution across the rural areas and the nation’s capital.
Liv Elin Indreiten, Deputy Representative of United Nation International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said the World Prematurity Day serves as a testimony of UNICEF’s familiar spirit in providing lifesaving intervention for newborn babies across Sierra Leone and beyond. She explained that the celebration units their pressing needs and commitment to families and their newborns and children under the age of five.
Elin Indreiten said fifty millions of babies are approximately born prematurely every year in Sierra Leone; adding that UNICEF has aligned with Ministry of Health and other partners. “For the past six years, sixty special care baby units are establishes in fourteen districts,” UNICEF Deputy Rep said.
She affirmed that UNICEF has also provided neonatal facilities, training programs, medical equipment, supply chain, improvement of quality care and the extension of newborn wards in the country.
Elin Indreiten noted that the Kangaroo mother care or skin-to-skin contact provides love and sensitive care which save babies of development.
Dr. Rabiatu Sageer, Maternal Health Specialist for United Nation Fund for Population Activities said UNFPA remains the leading consortium in saving the lives of premature babies in the country. She reaffirmed that the institution is committed in supporting the Kangaroo mother care units.
Dr. James Bunn, Health Adviser of Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office felt pleased about the data of special care baby prevention in Sierra Leone. “This is more encouraging than five years ago,” Dr. Bunn said.
He added that keeping the baby warm after birth brings fanfare of love and growth to the baby.
Hawa Conteh, a mother thanked the Ministry of Health, nurses, medical experts and development partners for ensuring that the Kangaroo mother care continues to be their concerns. She said her baby has grown to an amazing height compared to the time she was.