Launch of WHO recommendations for care of the preterm or low-birth-weight infant

Description

An estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. That is more than 1 in 10 babies. Approximately 1 million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth. Many surviving babies face a lifetime of disability, including learning disabilities and visual and hearing problems.

On World Prematurity Day 2022, 17th November 2022, The Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization Geneva launched new recommendations based on evidence that has emerged that allows us to improve the care of preterm or low birth weight babies. There are 25 recommendations which substantially expand the ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘how’ for improving the survival, health and well-being of preterm and low birth weight babies. This includes kangaroo mother care and involving families in the care of their babies right from the time of birth.

At the launch event, expert speakers presented the recommendations. They also discussed the evidence that underpins them, their potential impact, implementation challenges, and what the recommendations mean for families and services.

Speakers include:

• Dr Anshu Banjeree, Director, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, WHO Geneva
• Dr Karen Edmond, Department of Maternal, Newborn Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, WHO Geneva
• Dr Rajiv Bahl, Indian Council of Medical Research
• Dr Vinod Paul, National Institution for Transforming India, the NITI Aayog, New Delhi
• Dr Gary Darmstadt, Stanford University, California, and many others

This webinar was hosted by the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization, Geneva.