Research Shows Low Cost Ways to Save 3 million Newborn Lives

Washington, D.C., March 3, 2005 (PAHO)—A landmark series of research papers on the survival of newborn babies released today finds that 3 million of them could be saved with interventions such as tetanus immunization during pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding, clean delivery and antibiotics to treat illness. These cost less than $1 per child, according to the papers in the leading international medical journal The Lancet.

The series on newborn survival analyzes the status of newborn health around the world and calls for immediate and sustained action to save newborn lives.

"Eight million children are either stillborn or die each year within the first month of life. This figure never makes news," said Richard Horton, Lancet editor-in-chief, in his series editorial. "The aim of the present Lancet series is to erase the excuse of ignorance for public and political inaction once and for all."

A panel of leading international public health experts announced the research findings today at the National Press Club here. All four articles and a number of related papers are available on line at www.thelancet.com.

"At less than $1.00 per capita per year in additional spending to provide these life saving interventions to 90 percent of mothers and babies, the cost is affordable," said Dr. Gary Darmstadt, director of the Center for International Neonatal Health at The Johns Hopkins University. "When you look at the sheer number of deaths coupled with the fact that extremely cost-effective interventions are available, current funding levels are inexcusably low. Both international donors and leaders in developing countries must be held accountable for commitments to increasing resources, and then spending these resources effectively, based on the evidence we now have."

Almost 40 percent of all child deaths worldwide occur in the first month of life. Although 99 percent of newborn deaths are in poor countries, almost all of the funding and research worldwide focuses on high-technology solutions for the 1 percent of deaths in rich countries. The burden of maternal, newborn and child mortality falls disproportionately on the world’s poorest countries and on the poorest populations.

Dr. Carissa Etienne, assistant director of the Pan American Health Organization, said, "We can use simple techniques to instruct householders on danger signals and simple interventions for conditions they can manage at home. Community health workers and other individuals can be trained so they can provide a second level of care, with clear guidelines, to help improve the care of newborns and avoid these deaths."

Dr. Vinod Paul of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences said, "The tragedy of neonatal deaths must end. The numbers are colossal; seven babies die every minute, or 10,000 a day. It’s the same as having one Asian tsunami every two weeks, but our responses are very different. Simple bacterial infections that kill these babies could be prevented with an antibiotic costing 25 cents."

"The global commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goal for child survival is an unprecedented opportunity to reduce newborn mortality," said Dr. Jacques Baudouy, director, Health, Nutrition and Population, Human Development Network, The World Bank. "But we must all take collective responsibility for this global health crisis and commit to working together in close coordination to achieve this goal."

"It is time for governments and assistance agencies to take joint responsibility to reduce the needless deaths of women and children," said Anne Tinker, director, Saving Newborn Lives, Save the Children/USA. "Political commitment, increased human and financial resources, community involvement, and coordinated country-level support will be required to turn what we know into action. The partnerships for maternal, newborn and child survival are working to coordinate efforts, increase resources, and put policies into action."

International health and development agencies including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Saving Newborn Lives - Save the Children/USA, contributed to the production of the series, which involved the work of leading academics and health economists from the UK, USA, Asia and Africa. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID provided funding.

PAHO Member States today include all 35 countries in the Americas. France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are Participating States. Portugal and Spain are Observer States, and Puerto Rico is an Associate Member.