A child-centered organization, Child Rights International (CRI), has expressed deep concern over the recent data from the Ghana Health Service (GHS), revealing that 50,000 infants lose their lives annually due to birth asphyxia.
Describing this figure as disturbing, CRI called for a thorough investigation into the root causes of these deaths to inform appropriate policy decisions and actions.
In a statement released by Executive Director Bright Appiah in Accra, CRI emphasized the importance of introducing a parliamentary bill that addresses the appropriate procedures and care for newborns during birth in the country.
They highlighted that such a bill could be initiated by a Member of Parliament through a private member’s bill.
“This process can also be initiated by a Member of Parliament by way of a private member’s bill,” the statement added.
Birth asphyxia occurs when a baby’s brain and other organs are deprived of sufficient oxygen and nutrients before, during, or immediately after birth.
This can happen in the womb, leading to stillbirths, or during prolonged labor. According to Dr. Edward Antwi, the Programme Manager for Newborn and Child Health at GHS, approximately one million babies are born each year, with a neonatal mortality rate of 17 per 1,000 live births.
This means that out of one million births, approximately 170,000 babies die, and 30% of these deaths are attributed to birth asphyxia.
On a daily basis, about 136 children lose their lives due to this condition, putting a strain on the healthcare system and negatively affecting the nation’s health sector.
In response to this distressing revelation, CRI urged the government and relevant stakeholders to take immediate and decisive action. They recommended the establishment of a national policy that outlines the expected standard of care in all health facilities providing child delivery services. This policy should include specific responsibilities for stakeholders, including mothers and health personnel, and clearly define the consequences for those found responsible for causing the death of a baby. Additionally, CRI called for the provision of mandatory psychological services to families who experience the loss of a baby at birth.
To tackle this issue at its roots, CRI also urged the government to implement a policy that ensures all pregnant women visit health facilities for early diagnosis of asphyxia.
As a child-centered organization, CRI emphasized the need for collective efforts and resources from the government, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders to significantly reduce these statistics in line with SDG Goal Three.