Deaths and brain injuries are two of the serious consequences of perinatal asphyxia in the newborn, a condition that can affect children at birth caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain and is the third leading cause of death. neonatal in the country.
Reports from the National Health Service (NHS) indicate that in 2019 alone in the 15 hospitals performing the highest number of births, 843 cases of asphyxiation were recorded for 1.25%.
Globally, perinatal asphyxia has a prevalence of 2 to 4 cases per thousand newborns, 15 to 20% die during the neonatal period and 25 to 30% of survivors have neurological damage. permanent.
To reduce this incidence, the NHS launched the project: “Neonatal Obstetric Alliance for Decreased Perinatal Asphyxia and Extreme Maternal Morbidity.”
In a first phase, it will cover nine hospitals belonging to the Regional Metropolitan Health Service (SRSM), including the maternity hospitals Our Lady of Altagracia, the Dominican Woman, Reynaldo Almánzar and San Lorenzo de Los Mina and the hospitals of second level of attention: Municipal de Boca Chica, Yamasá, Engombe, L’Almirall and Villa Mella.
The details were offered by Dr. Mario Lama, director of the NHS, at the head of the launch of the project, for which he said it will improve the quality of care, to train our staff care, hire more specialists, acquire new equipment.
He explained that the Neonatal Obstetric Alliance for the Reduction of Perinatal Asphyxia and Extreme Maternal Morbidity, consists of training staff in the centers in updating protocols, improving childbirth and prenatal consultation and establishing a hypothermia network for the effective use or transfer of the newborn in its first six hours of life, to a hypothermia machine
This, with attention to the pathologies most linked to premature birth and perinatal asphyxia, such as: anemia, infections, hypertensive disorders, diabetes and malnutrition, among others; Strict follow-up of care protocols, kits with vitamins, antihypertensives and other medications and supplies required to reduce morbidity and mortality will be given to pregnant women.
The execution will be through the Maternal and Child Health Directorate of the NHS, led by Dr. Martín Ortiz, and coordinated by the Maternal and Neonatal departments, by Dr. Yuderkis Moreno and Dr. Taina Malena, respectively.
The project was launched on the occasion of the commemoration, on September 12, of the day of Neonatal Education in Latin America …
Perinatal Asphyxia is defined as the cessation of gas exchange, either in the lungs or placenta, in the period immediately before, during or after birth, and death can cause hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). English), cerebral palsy, seizures and other forms of brain damage.