A year ago, the government had started making concerted efforts under the National Rural Health Mission to lower the neonatal death rate from 27 per cent to below 10 per cent by opening special facilities in areas accessible to rural people.
Set up as part of this, the Sick Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) at the Jubilee Maternity Hospital here has proved to be a useful facility in bringing down the neonatal death rate considerably among the poor families. Nearly 20 warmers have been provided at this centre, where three paediatricians are also available round the clock.
The SNCU has helped in quick recovery of nearly one hundred babies per month.
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“The objective of the NRHM is to reduce the death rate to below 10 per cent. In the Nellore facility, a death rate of 9 is recorded from February 2013 to March 2014. More serious cases are being referred to Tirupati,” said G. Chandrasekhar, civil assistant surgeon.
Total healthcare support is given to the baby at this centre and health check-up is usually done from head to toe. Any defect, including oxygen deficiency, will be immediately attended. Nearly 10 to 15 babies per day are being treated at the SNCU in Nellore.
Neonatal care is required for babies born with illnesses such as jaundice, respiratory distress, infections, and asphyxia. Pre-term babies also require treatment at this facility.
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The normal weight of a newborn baby is 2.5 kg and the problem of underweight arises in case of those born with ailments.
Absence of crying and symptoms of asthmatic distress are some of the problems that require immediate treatment.
Most of the cases treated at the SNCU pertain to babies born at the Maternity Hospital, where nearly 20 deliveries are reported every day. Poor nutrition is considered a major problem among them.
High neonatal death rate is reported mainly due to lack of immediate medical support. Either the families cannot afford the costs involved in private hospitals or such facilities are not available in remote rural areas.