ZCZC
BSS-40
PREMATURITY-DAY-RANGPUR (with picture)
Health experts for preventing preterm births to achieve SDGs
RANGPUR, Nov 16, 2019 (BSS) – Health experts at a press conference today
laid emphasis on creating awareness and providing healthcare facilities to
prevent preterm births to reduce neonatal deaths for attaining the
sustainable development goals (SDGs).
They opined this at the event organised by Rangpur Civil Surgeon Office
with support of the Born on Time Project under assistance of Plan
International, Lamb Bangladesh, Global Affairs Canada and Johnson and Johnson
Incorporate at Press Club auditorium in the city.
Civil Surgeon Dr Hirombo Kumar Roy presided over the event arranged in
observance of the World Prematurity Day- 2019 with the theme of ‘Born Too
Soon: Providing the Right Care, at the Right Time, at the Right Place.’
Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Rangpur Medical
College and Hospital Dr. Kamrun Nahar Jui and its Registrar Dr. Mariyam
Begum, Assistant Director of the Department of Family Planning Dr. Mozammel
Haque and the Born on Time Project Managers Dr. Arefin Amal Islam of Plan
International Bangladesh and Ashraful Alam Mandal of Lamb Hospital addressed
as resource persons.
The experts said the leading cause of child deaths under five-year age is
preterm births that accounts for nearly one million deaths each year
globally.
Dr. Arefin said preterm birth rates are increasing in almost all countries
in the world and Bangladesh stands at number seven among ten countries that
contribute to 60 percent of the total preterm births.
“Around 81 percent preterm births occur in Africa and South Asia. In
Bangladesh, around 75 percent newborn deaths are due to complications of
prematurity, intrapartum complications like birth asphyxia and sepsis,” he
added.
Dr Mariyam stressed the need for taking proper care of the preterm births
by providing essential newborn care like neonatal resuscitation, Kangaroo
Mother Care, Chlorhexidine care and comprehensive neonatal intensive care.
Ashraful said the Born on Time project is being implemented in three
countries of Mali, Ethiopia and Bangladesh through private, public and
corporate partnership to prevent preterm births.
In Bangladesh, the project is being implemented in six upazilas
(Mithapukur, Pirganj, Taraganj, Gangachara, Kawnia and Pirgachha) of Rangpur
since 2016 with support from LAMB Bangladesh.
Dr Nahar put importance on establishing gender responsive and adolescent-
friendly maternal and newborn health services and delivery care round-the-
clock at union level health facilities and creating social awareness to
reduce the risk of preterm births.
BSS/MI/MMR/ARS/2020 hrs