The Paediatric Society of Ghana (PSG) has launched the 2024 Birth Asphyxia Awareness Month celebration focused on mobilising resources to support health facilities improve management of the condition. Birth Asphyxia is the leading cause of newborn mortality in the country with a count of 30 for every 1000 births, and the Society dedicated the month of September to its awareness. The awareness month celebration is being led this year by the Bono Region Chapter of the society, and hundreds of paediatricians and field partners attended the launch. Dr Frank Serebour, President of the Ghana Medical Association who was Chairman of the launch ceremony said of birth asphyxia in newborn babies had effects on families and communities at large. 'We all recognise the profound implications of birth asphyxia on infants, both in terms of morbidity and mortality, and the longterm implications cannot be overemphasised. It does not only affect the baby but the family and the community at large. 'It is my hope that this e vent deepens our understanding of birth asphyxia, especially our understanding of the prevention strategies, and also ensure that together we work to bring life to every baby,' he said Dr Marion Okoh, the Director of the Family Health Division of the Ghana Health Service was special guest of honour, and in a speech pledged massive support for the celebration. She gave the assurance that various paediatric facilities across the country would undertake programs and events to promote awareness on the dire condition. 'It is important for us to know that we can make a big difference by addressing the factors that contribute to birth asphyxia. This is a month-long celebration and the family health division will dedicate time to join various facilities on your different interventions during this awareness month. 'Let continue to shine light on these issues. It is important for us to dedicate time to talk about this during this month, and Ghana health service will partner with you in that regard. It is important for us to talk about the causes, the symptoms, and the consequences. It is also important for leaders and managers of the service to ensure these practices and promote the highest quality of care for pregnant women and for the newborns,' the Director said. She there made an appeal to organisations and individuals to support the drive to fight the condition. 'I want to invite the whole nation to support this wonderful initiative - whether you are a policy professional, be you a policy maker, a concerned citizen, every one of us, we have a role to play. So, let's work together to ensure that every newborn has the best possible start in life. It's important for us that we can make every difference, and we can do it one breath at a time', Dr. Okoh stated. Dr. Charles Adu Takyi, a fetomaternal consultant, in a presentation on the prevention of birth asphyxia, outlined causes of the condition and the peculiarity to various stages of the birth process. He said prevention remained key, and primarily should invol ve the identification if risks in pregnancy and initiating preventive measures. More than 500 professionals and stakeholders that joined the launch, had an engaging session with Dr. Akua Afriyie Ocrana, a Neonatologist the. She also endorsed the need for prevention and said prompt resuscitation saved lives. This year's celebration is on the theme 'Breathing Life into Every Baby,' and the Paediatric Society has initiated a fund-raising effort as part of the awareness month celebration. Dr. Emmanuel Oppong, Vice President of the Paediatric Society said it would support health facilities with basic and needed equipment to save the lives of newborns. 'Over the years, as a Society we have observed that some facilities are having challenges having the basic equipment that is needed to manage and prevent cases of birth asphyxia properly. So, we are very excited to let members, and all stakeholders know that part of this year's celebration will involve fundraising, specifically to mobilise resources to buy very essential items that we know can make a difference in our management and prevention of birth asphyxia across the country. 'This fundraising effort is to be able to identify some facilities that we know, based on all the data and evidence that they are having peculiar challenges and therefore their birth asphyxia incidents are on the high. We are imploring everyone - philanthropists, foundations among others to donate, so that as many facilities as possible can be supported,' he said. Source: Ghana News Agency