Professor Cyril Engmann, Global Director of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition of PATH, has commended Ghana for adopting the “Every Newborn Action Plan” to end preventable stillbirths and newborn deaths.

PATH is an international non-profit organisation and a leader in global health innovation.

He said Ghana is one of the leading countries to adopt the action plan launched in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Prof Engmann made the commendation, when he delivered a lecture titled: “Accelerating Innovations in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition to improve Neonatal Survival and ‘Thrival’” in Accra.

He said the rationale for the lecture was to put a spotlight on the newborn agenda, which did not receive the much needed attention over the last decade.

The plan seeks to promote innovative ways to strengthen health sector strategies, and outline standards for quality care, measurement of births and deaths.

It also includes programmes to reach the most neglected with universally available health care, and set guidelines for accountability.

He said: “A mother dying and a child also dying is a tragedy to every country.”

Prof Engmann called for a multi-sectorial approach to addressing Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition issues.

The Director said PATH is working on a number of projects to improve health care delivery in the country and the notable one is “Making Every Baby Count Initiative“, with Ghana Health Service.

He said the five-year initiative would support four regions to improve newborn health through effective management of prematurity, infections and inability of the newborn to breathe.

The initiative would also contribute knowledge, strategies and skills nationally towards better care of the newborn child and avoidance of preventable deaths.

He also said the initiative funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation would contribute significantly to improvement in quality, availability and accessibility of essential newborn care.