DIMAPUR — Longleng district health society on Wednesday observed the ‘National Newborn Week 2023’ at District Hospital, Longleng, on the theme “Nurturing newborn lives through community-facility engagement.”
The CMO of Longleng, Dr. Tiasunep, who launched ‘National Newborn Week,’ stressed creating awareness among healthcare professionals and sensitising the public towards newborn care for their overall development.
While emphasising the need to be careful about newborn care during the delivery, he encouraged the ASHA to follow up HBNC till the child attains 28 days after delivery.
Delivering the keynote address during the inaugural programme, Dr. S Imnameren Phom, DPO (RCH/UIP), stated that ‘National Newborn Week’ has been celebrated every year all over the country from November 15 to the 21st since 2000. The main aim for celebrating the week is to raise awareness about the importance of newborn care for child survival and development, stated an update from the office of the chief medical officer (CMO), Longleng.
Dr. Phom has emphasised the importance of newborn care as the neonatal period (the first 28 days of life) is a crucial period for child survival. According to him, this period involves the highest risk of deaths per day than any other period during childhood. He added that newborn care is essential to minimise the risk of illness and maximise their growth and development.
He, therefore, stressed key activities such as mentoring and quality visits to newborn care units, labour room, quality home-based newborn care visits by the ASHA, and comprehensive newborn screening at delivery points for visible/ functional birth defects.
The programme was chaired by Christina, VCCM, while an invocation prayer was said by Manpong, supervisor of UIP Longleng.
The report stated that incentives were given to fully immunised children who came for vaccination during the programme. It was followed with a visit to the vaccination room, labour room, and newborn care corner for assessment.
In a related programme, Wokha district health society observed ‘National Newborn Week’ during a programme held at the office of the chief medical officer (CMO).
Addressing the healthcare workers, CMO of Wokha, Dr. Zubenthung Kikon, has underscored the importance of providing newborn care in order to prevent hypothermia and other health risks among infants. He also encouraged the healthcare workers to promote breastfeeding and vaccination among beneficiaries during home visits.
Speaking on the theme, the district programme officer (UIP/RCH), Dr. Thungchangpeni Patton, emphasised the important role of ASHA in sensitising the community on newborn care and urged them to report any risk pregnancy cases in the community to health facilities.
She informed the healthcare workers to give special emphasis on ante-natal care, promote institutional delivery, and identify low birth weight and preterm babies during the newborn week.
The district programme manager, district community mobiliser, block ASHA coordinators, block programme managers, medical staff and urban ASHA attended the programme.
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