Experts call for collaboration, funding for preterm care

On Nov 18, 2024

Co-Founder of Babies Matter Medical Centre (BMMC), Dr Efunbo Dosekun has urged governments to partner with specialised Neonatal healthcare providers to improve care for premature babies.

Dosekun made the call on Sunday in Lagos, at a programme organised by the BMMC to commemorate the 2024 World Prematurity Day.

World Prematurity Day holds every Nov. 17 globally. The day is set aside to raise awareness about infants born prematurely and the difficulties they face.

The theme for 2024 is “Access to quality care everywhere”.

The World Health Organisation says no fewer than 13 million babies are born prematurely yearly, highlighting the global disparities in healthcare and calls for universal access to high-quality care for preterm babies, regardless of their birth circumstances or location.

Preterm birth remains a leading cause of death for children under- five, and many who survive face lifelong disabilities due to inadequate healthcare

Dosekun said: “Preterm babies are very tiny babies. Caring for them can be quite difficult, especially if they are less than 28 weeks and a lot of times, it’s a twin pregnancy or triplet pregnancy, where these babies come out early.

“About 20 years ago, the death rate for premature babies was high but with the advent of modern technology and better understanding of these tiny babies, things are getting better for the good.

“At BMMC, we have advanced Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with specialised medical personnel and the service we render is not different from what you will get in developed countries like the UK or U.S.

“We are using this opportunity to reach out to the government on our readiness to work and partner with them to save the lives of more preterm babies”.

According to Dosekun, BBMC, which is a subsidiary of the Outreach Hospitals, is a 10-bed units adding that plans are already in place to increase the capacity of the centre to a 50-bed units, by the end of 2025.

Speaking also, Dr Zainab Mudasiru, the Clinical Lead for Babies Matter, said there was need for increased funding to ensure unhindered care for premature babies as a way of supporting parents.

“It’s great that a day is set aside to create awareness about preterm babies and the challenges these babies go through to survive.

“It is also challenging for parents and for the families as well who have babies in the unit for weeks.

“For us at BMMC, we have a whole lot of reasons to celebrate because we have graduated extremely preterms babies who were given birth to at 25 weeks, and they are presently doing fine owing to the service we render here,” she said.

NAN/Wumi