Washington: Every two seconds, a precious life enters the world too soon, and every 40 seconds, one of these little ones passes away. Shockingly, nearly half of all preterm births in 2020 occurred in just five countries – India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China, and Ethiopia, states a report from WHO.
These nations accounted for 45% of premature births worldwide, putting these vulnerable babies at a heightened mortality risk. This is a silent emergency that demands our attention and action to safeguard the health and survival of our children.
The latest report by WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund, and Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) has revealed that a staggering 13.4 million babies were born prematurely in 2020, with almost one million of them succumbing to complications. Shockingly, this translates to one in every 10 babies! In India, the situation is dire, with inadequate neonatal care infrastructure being the primary culprit.
While some progress has been made in improving access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas, there is still a long way to go. According to Dr. Surender Singh Bisht, secretary general of the National Neonatology Forum (NNF), the lack of expansive facilities, including special newborn care units and efficient deliveries, is a major challenge that needs to be addressed urgently.