Accra, April 27, GNA - About 18,000 of children below five years die each year due to preventable diseases, Dr. Isabella Sagoe-Moses, National Child Health Coordinator said on Friday in Accra. She said most neo-natal deaths were associated with conditions of such diseases as diarrhoea, pneumonia, malaria, measles, AIDS, with majority being malnutrition.

Dr Sagoe-Moses said this at the Ghana Health Service Monthly Promotion Talk under the theme: "Care for the newborn, start right". The ceremony was held in preparation for the Child Health Week celebration, which starts from May 7 - 11. The week would be launched at Mankessim in the Central Region and would be followed by free health care service delivery comprising the distribution of Vitamin A supplementation, Insecticide Treated Nets, immunisation, birth registration of infants and awareness creation.

Dr Sagoe-Moses explained that the causes of newborn deaths were mainly congenital, asphyxia, (unconsciousness) from which babies die between the first and seventh day.

She noted that about 70 per cent of newborn deaths could be prevented if the effective interventions delivered along the continuum of care during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, childbirth, neonatal and childhood were improved.

"Several newborns' lives can be saved if the existing interventions reach at least 90 per cent of our newborns and mothers", she added. She explained that the Millennium Development Goal would not be achieved unless there was a considerable reduction in these deaths and called for strengthening of newborn care. Mr Kingsley Asare-Addo of the Births and Deaths Registry entreated parents to ensure that their children were registered and had the certificates.

He said registration of newborns was free adding, "the registration gives them the legal recognition and social protection."