MPHS and MMS-National Guidelines on Essential Newborn Care 2010

The single most powerful conclusion from the analysis of child survival and intervention packaging is the realization of the potential of newborn care interventions in reducing child mortality. Childhood mortality can be reduced by eliminating neonatal death from preventable causes, i.e., severe infection, asphyxia and preterm and low birth weight.

In Africa, about 265,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, around 1.12 million newborns die before they complete their first month of life and another one million babies are still born each year. It is believed that there are a lot more maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths occurring at home - unseen and uncounted in official statistics. Despite the high maternal and neonatal mortality, the current provision of care in the first hours, days and weeks of life is low in most Sub-Saharan African countries regardless of whether babies are born in the health facility or at home.