Tegucigalpa, June 22, 2023 (PAHO/WHO) - The Honduran Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Latin American Centre for Perinatology/Women's and Reproductive Health (CLP/WR) and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the generous financial support of the Government of Canada, is progressing in the establishment of the Honduran Alliance for Neonatal Health. This alliance aims to promote high-impact, evidence-based interventions in the field of newborn health, coordinate the efforts of key newborn health actors in Honduras, and increase the effectiveness of policies and actions to ensure that more newborns survive and thrive.
Over the last decade, newborn health has gained increasing prominence on the public agenda. There are significant challenges to be addressed in the neonatal period, as well as in the continuum of care for women, pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care. The neonatal mortality rate in Honduras accounts for 65 per cent of infant mortality, and inequalities in maternal and neonatal health are evident, especially in the poorest families.
In response to this situation, the creation of the Honduran Alliance for Neonatal Health has been proposed, following the example of other regional and national alliances in Latin America and the Caribbean. These alliances have proven to be effective in promoting evidence-based policies and programming, reducing inequalities and prioritising newborn health in the region.
The implementation of the Honduran Alliance for Neonatal Health will take place in several stages. The institutions involved will be identified and the strategic needs will be defined. The participation of potential partners will be sought and interest in the initiative will be generated. A meeting to present the Alliance will be called, where it will be made official and a common agenda and clear objectives will be established. In addition, an organizational structure will be defined and an annual work plan will be drawn up to supervise and follow up on the actions.
The Alliance will have an appropriate structure and governance to ensure its efficient functioning. Members of the Honduran Alliance for Neonatal Health include the Ministry of Health, PAHO/WHO, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), non-governmental organisations such as ChildFund, as well as the Association of Paediatrics and Neonatology of Honduras and postgraduate nursing and paediatrics departments of the National Autonomous University of Honduras. It is expected to include other organisations, associations, agencies, individuals, governments and private sector entities whose actions align with the Alliance's mission. In addition, an executive committee responsible for drafting the plan will be established. These key actors have come together to work in an evidence-based, cross-sectoral manner to reduce neonatal mortality and improve the health of newborns in Honduras.
The Ministry of Health, CLP/WR, PAHO/WHO and the Honduran Alliance for Neonatal Health reaffirm their commitment to work together to implement effective and sustainable strategies to improve neonatal health in Honduras.
