Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has called for increased investment in neonatal healthcare and specialised medical services to improve the survival, growth and development of premature babies in Ghana.
She stressed that babies born prematurely require more than emergency medical attention to survive their first few days of life, explaining that long-term medical care, regular health monitoring and continuous support are essential to ensure their healthy development.
Speaking at the 3rd Purple for Prematurity Summit, Prof. Ayensu-Danquah emphasised the importance of strengthening newborn healthcare systems to ensure that premature infants receive the specialised attention they need after birth.
According to her, government is implementing several interventions to reduce newborn deaths and improve maternal and child healthcare delivery across the country.
These initiatives include the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER) and the expansion of community-based newborn care services to improve access to essential healthcare for mothers and newborns.
The Deputy Health Minister also called for stronger cooperation between government, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive national maternal and child health roadmap.
She explained that such a framework would help guarantee quality healthcare for every child, particularly babies born prematurely, with low birth weight or serious medical conditions.
AFPNC Founder Calls for National Action Plan on Premature Babies
Meanwhile, Founder of the African Foundation for Premature Babies and Children (AFPNC), Selma Bentoom, has urged the government to introduce a National Action Plan on Prematurity to strengthen specialised care for premature infants.
She called for the integration of follow-up healthcare services for premature babies into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) benefits package.
According to Bentoom, increased government funding for neonatal healthcare is necessary to ensure that premature babies receive continuous medical attention even after being discharged from hospitals.
She emphasised that saving the life of a premature baby should not be considered the end of the healthcare process, noting that sustained medical support is crucial to helping these children grow, develop and enjoy healthier lives.
The calls made at the 3rd Purple for Prematurity Summit highlight the need for Ghana to strengthen neonatal intensive care services, improve access to specialised newborn treatment and expand long-term healthcare support for vulnerable infants.
Stakeholders believe that increased investment in premature baby care, improved maternal healthcare and stronger newborn health policies could contribute significantly to reducing infant mortality and improving child health outcomes in Ghana.
Source: newsthemegh.com