All preterm infants deserve Kangaroo care, says First Lady

Islamabad :While the admission of a new-born in a neonatal intensive care unit commonly implies separation of the mother from her infant, the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) model for neonatal care not only supports the mother’s role as a primary care giver but also minimizes separation between the baby and mother. As such, KMC should be encouraged in all nurseries that care for preterm infants.

Pakistan’s First Lady Samina Arif Alvi delivered these remarks while speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of Islamabad’s first Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) here on Friday. The ceremony was attended, most importantly, by parents of babies who have received services at the KMC Centre, PIMS. Other guests included Head of Mission of WHO Dr. Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala, UNICEF Representative Aida Girma, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr. Nausheen Hamid, representatives of development partners, NGOs, as well as medical and nursing students, and media.

The First Lady paid tributes to the mothers of baby Saad, baby Aleezay Fatima, and all others who provided KMC to their fragile babies, thereby setting an example for several others. She thanked UNICEF for supporting Pakistan in its efforts to improve new-born survival and acknowledge its role in introducing KMC in Pakistan. “However, to have wider coverage, all health development partners should join hands. The excellence of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health service is to ensure that all high-impact MNCH interventions are implemented, practiced and appropriately linked to all levels of healthcare. We all must work together for survival of small and sick new-borns,” she stated, urging the media to join too.

Aida Girma emphasised that evidence-based cost-effective interventions are available to reduce major causes of new-born mortality. “Isolated interventions at a small scale would be insufficient to make any significant impact,” she stated. Aida recollected the words of a mother who termed the KMC Centre as a gift of God. “This mother’s baby was born critically premature but is a healthy and active child today as they were able to avail the services being offered at this Centre,” she said. Each day, more than 600 new-borns die in Pakistan due to preventable causes. Unfortunately, Pakistan is one of the countries which bears the burden of most neonatal deaths. “This must change,” the UNICEF chief emphasised.

In outlining important areas requiring improvement, Aida listed training of public and private health service providers in latest techniques such as KMC, improving clinical case management, and ensuring regular supply of critical medicines and equipment. She applauded the government’s commitment to social sector development. “For long-term sustainability of health services, strong political support from the government is imperative along with an increase in public sector allocation of funds and resources to MNCH initiatives,” she said.

Dr Ansar Maxood, the Executive Director of PIMS, also voiced commitment to improved maternal and new-born survival including allocation of required resources.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Dr. Nausheen applauded PIMS for taking the lead in establishing the KMC Centre and hoped that other hospitals would follow suit. She spelled out the government’s commitment to achieve equitable access to basic amenities of life for people, of which mother and child health is an important component. “The policies and resources of the government are fully aligned with SDG targets and are geared towards achieving them.

Dr. Nausheen requested all implementers, clinicians and partners to support the establishment of KMC services at all health facility levels linking up with the community to ensure survival and optimal development of preterm and low birth weight babies. “Much has been done to save lives and prevent illness but more needs to be done, especially with reference to putting proper mechanisms in place for provision of improved services so that precious lives of mothers and children can be saved,” she concluded.