General Article Ending newborn deaths: ensuring every baby survives

Topic Selected: Global Health
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The first 24 hours of a child’s life are the most dangerous, with more than one million babies dying each year on their first and only day of life, according to new research published by Save the Children.

 

The new report, Ending Newborn Deaths, shows one half of first day deaths around the world could be prevented if the mother and baby had access to free health care and a skilled midwife.

The children’s aid agency says the deaths happen because of premature birth and complications during birth, such as prolonged labour, pre-eclampsia and infection, which can be avoided if quality health experts are present.

The research also found an additional 1.2 million babies are stillborn each year, their heartbeats stopping during labour because of childbirth complications, maternal infections and hypertension.

In a bid to save millions of newborn lives, Save the Children has called on world leaders to commit in 2014 to a blueprint for change – The Five Point Newborn Promise – which focus...

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