Forum on ending newborn deaths set

MANILA, Philippines – In an effort to raise awareness and lessen the number of newborn deaths globally and in the Philippines, Save the Children (STC), an international charitable group for children in need, will hold a forum on ending newborn deaths on Monday, April 8.

According to STC, an estimate of 2.9 million babies died within 28 days in 2012. Of this number, around 1 million babies passed away on their first day of life. Newborn deaths account for about 44% of children dying before their 5th birthday.

Although child mortality has had significant gains, such progress could be stalled if the high number of newborn deaths is not addressed. Newborn deaths is closely linked with access to maternal health care, reproductive health services, and teen pregnancies, among other factors.

STC will also launch a report that addresses the importance of  preventing newborn deaths to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target on child survival.

The forum will be held at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Makati City, from 9 am to 12 nn. For more information, contact Carmina Sarmiento at 0917-5251782 or through carmina.sarmiento@savethechildren.org. – Rappler.com