20 Nov 2016

Prematurity rate is said to be escalating globally and it is the biggest contributing factor to infant mortality.

Botswana was faced with this challenge and thus committed to ending preventable preterm births by adopting Sustainable Development Goals, which included reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

Speaking at the World Prematurity Day commemoration recently, Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele said Botswana had existing measures to prevent and treat preterm complications in free antenatal care, safe motherhood initiatives and skilled manpower among others.

“This is the right time to intensify quality care to all women and newborns so that they stay healthy, thrive and ultimately contribute to the development of their country,” he said.

Mr Makgalemele also said it was important that the country promoted and intensify women and girl’s education, do away with negative cultural practices and even stigmatising those who had experienced premature birth.

Furthermore, he said it was vital that interventions, which included prevention of adolescent pregnancy, care during pregnancy, skilled delivery, early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, early postnatal care including Kangaroo mother care be scaled up.

Meanwhile, according to World Health Organisation, an estimated 15 million babies were born preterm every year, while 1 million of these children die each year due to complications of prematurity.

Princess Marina Hospital alone recorded 1 017 premature births against a total of 6 232 children born in 2014, while in 2015 the hospital recorded 1291 premature births from a total of 7145 children born.

Therefore, the health and wellness assistant minister noted that while infant and under 5 mortality rates had shown decline over time from 74 to 28 per 1000 live births in 2001 to 2011 respectively, it had been noted that 40 percent of infant mortality rate was attributed to neonatal mortality currently estimated to be 34/1000 live births.

For his part, Hospital Superintendent, Dr Kelebogile Motumise said since Princess Marina receives the highest number of pregnant mother, they recorded a high number of preterm birth.

He however said to reduce overcrowding, they stabilise the neonates and send them to Scottish Livingstone Hospital.

Currently, Dr Motumise said they had 56 neonates in the special baby care unit. ENDS