Port-au-Prince, November 26, 2024 (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR), in collaboration with UNICEF, continues to support the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) in the area of essential care for newborns. With the aim of reducing neonatal mortality, which is particularly high in the country, a series of training sessions on Essential Care for Newborns (SENN) has been organized in three departments (North-West, South-East and North) for healthcare providers.
The initiative, which trained almost 70 health professionals from 30 health institutions, is part of a national program to standardize neonatal care practices. Held in Port-de-Paix, Jacmel and Cap-Haïtien during September and November, the workshops strengthened the skills of nurses, midwives and doctors. The training covered essential practices such as neonatal resuscitation, infection prevention, the kangaroo method for low-weight newborns, as well as breastfeeding and its alternatives in the event of complications.
These training courses have already helped to transform the care given to newborn babies in certain health facilities. Trained professionals now apply standardized protocols for better management of complications, and improve the survival of babies. Particular attention is paid to mothers and newborns, providing care with respect and dignity. What's more, these training courses reach regions where access to quality care is limited, thus reinforcing health equity.
“With neonatal mortality rates as high as 32/1000 live births in some regions of Haiti, this initiative is essential to building the capacity of health professionals and improving newborn care,” said Dr. Oscar Barreneche, PAHO Representative in Haiti. “This effort will enable us to make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the one aimed at reducing neonatal mortality to less than 12/1000 by 2030. PAHO/WHO in Haiti remains firmly committed to working alongside the MSPP to achieve these goals and guarantee every newborn a start in life under the best possible conditions.”
Next steps include replicating these workshops in other departments, supplying institutions with basic materials for SENN, with the ambition of covering the whole country and ensuring quality neonatal care for every child.
