One newborn child dies every four minutes in Bangladesh and 1.5 lakh children die within 28 days of their birth. These shocking figures were revealed during two recent conferences held in Bangladesh, the International Perinatal Congress (IPC)  and the Healthy Newborn Partnership (HNP).
Regarding the causes for the large number of deaths, experts quoted that low birth weight and maternal malnutrition were the primary factors that affected the survival of an infant at the time of birth. Participants suggested that if the Millennium Development Goal for child survival was to be met, there was a need to give priority to reducing neonatal mortality rate among new born infants.
Recognizing the urgent need for improved prenatal and postnatal care to pregnant mothers and new born infants, the IPC adopted a declaration termed the 'Dhaka Declaration'. The declaration is committed to broad based partnership between government, private sector, professional bodies, health professionals, researchers, community people and international agencies for better maternal health as well as newborn health survival in the country.
Though Bangladesh has made significant progress in improving access of basic health facilities among poor communities, it has lacked in similar progress in the field of newborn health and maternal care. Bangladesh faces the reality of 150 000 newborn deaths every year in the first month of life, almost all from preventable causes. Only a meager 2 percent mothers and 15 percent children receive post natal care. This has to change in a big way if the country is to combat it's extremely high infant mortality.
[Reported in Daily Star and Independent]