'Conflict, climate change, Covid, cost-of-living heighten threats for women'

An estimated 134 million babies were born preterm in 2020 with 45 per cent of them being born in just five countries including India China and Pakistan according to a report released by the United Nations agencies and partners on WednesdayThe report titled Born Too Soon Decade of Action on Preterm Birth is developed by more than 140 individuals from 46 countries and is produced by the World Health Organisation WHO and the United Nations Childrens Fund UNICEF together with PMNCH the worlds largest alliance for women children and adolescentsThe report sounds the alarm on a iquestsilent emergencyiquest of preterm birth which is impeding progress in improving childrens health and survival The global preterm birth rate was 99 per cent in 2020 compared to 98 per cent in 2010 An estimated 134 million babies were born preterm in 2020 with nearly 1 million dying from preterm complications which is equivalent to around 1 in 10 babies born early before 37 weeks of pregnancy worldwideIn 2020 Bangladesh had the highest estimated preterm birth rate 162 per cent followed by Malawi 145 per cent and Pakistan 144 per cent Rates are also high in highincome countries such as Greece 11637 and the United States of America 10037 the report statedAlmost half 45 per cent of all preterm babies in 2020 were born in just five countries India Pakistan Nigeria China and Ethiopia it said The report highlighted that preterm birth rates have not changed in the past decade in any region of the world and that four Cs conflict climate change COVID19 and the costofliving crisis heighten threats for the most vulnerable women and babies in all countriesFor example air pollution is estimated to contribute to 6 million preterm births each yearNearly 1 in 10 preterm babies are born in the 10 most fragile countries affected by humanitarian crises according to a new analysis in the report Climate science is increasingly exposing the direct and indirect effects of climate change on pregnant women stillbirths and preterm birthAccording to it 12 million babies are born too soon in the 10 most fragile countries affected by humanitarian crises where accessing care for women and babies is particularly challenging More investment is needed to specifically mitigate risks and to increase focus on women and babies in policies and programmes addressing the climate emergency it saidAlso readIncreasing soil pollution having an adverse impact on food security ReportBorn too soon underlines why we must increase investment and accountability for preterm birth the worlds largest cause of death of children under the age of five Progress is flatlining for maternal and newborn health as well as the prevention of stillbirths and is now pushed back further through the devastating combination of COVID19 climate change expanding conflicts and rising living costs said Helga Fogstad Executive Director PMNCHBy working together in partnership governments donors the private sector civil society parents and health professionals we can sound the alarm about this silent emergency and bring preterm prevention and care efforts to the forefront of national health and development efforts building human capital by supporting families societies and economies everywhere Helga addedWith the report coming at a time when the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference IMNHC is being held at Cape Town from May 8 the WHO UNICEF UNFPA and PMNCH called for increased investments accelerated implementation of established national policies for maternal and newborn care to improve care for women and newborns and mitigate risks from preterm birthsThey also called for promoting education through the life cycle supporting smarter economic investments with cofinancing across sectors strengthening climate adaptation responses across the life course and advancing the coordination and resilience of emergency systems besides investing in locallyled innovation and research to support improvements in quality of care and equity in accessEnsuring quality care for these tiniest most vulnerable babies and their families is absolutely imperative for improving child health and survival said Dr Anshu Banerjee Director for Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at WHOProgress is also needed to help prevent preterm births this means every woman must be able to access quality health services before and during pregnancy to identify and manage risks he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever