23 Nov 2022

Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown registered 328 pre-mature babies between January and October this year.

Giving an overview during World Prematurity Day commemoration in Francistown recently, Dr Tshireletso Ramaphane-Makwape who is a paediatrician explained that the figure indicated that a pre-mature baby was born every day at the facility.

Globally, Dr Ramaphane-Makwape explained that prematurity was the leading cause of death in children under five.

“Complications of preterm birth are the leading cause of mortality in children in this age group,” she said.

The Pediatrician however took solace in the fact that said Botswana was doing well in addressing article 3.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target, which talks about ending preventable deaths of newborns and children below the age of five.

To this end, she stated that substantial progress had been made in reducing childhood mortality.

Giving a keynote address, Dr Loeto Mazhani of Dati Pediatric Clinic in Francistown assured mothers of premature babies in Francistown that a child born prematurely was like any normal child.

Dr Mazhani said evidence abounds that such children grow to become accomplished and healthy adults.

“This is very encouraging to would-be-mothers of premature babies,” he added.

He explained that globally, 15 million children were born premature and that 60 per cent of them came from developing countries of Africa, Botswana included.   

He was happy that governments across the globe including Botswana have come up with interventions such as the kangaroo parent care to take care of preterm infants.

One such intervention, he explained involved infants being carried at birth by the mothers, with skin-to-skin contact which he said had many benefits.

“Botswana has adopted this method and it has proved to be doing very well in the reduction of mortality,” He said.

Giving a testimony, a father to a preterm baby, Dr Onkgageletse Ndole explained that although it was not easy at first, his baby has fully recovered.

Early on in his welcome remarks, Dr Paul Sidandi, a Psychiatrist said the commemoration was meant to show compassion and support families who are experiencing the worry, depression, social isolation, and anxiety occasioned by premature births.

The main objective of world prematurity day is to raise awareness about preterm birth, and the journey that parents and families go through as well as the ways to care for premature babies.

 It  is also meant to raise awareness of neonatology, and encourage to improve the treatment and care of all premature babies on an international scale. BOPA