UNICEF Joins ANTH in Neonatal Health Training

News Desk

Islamabad: A training session on national guidelines for neonatal healthcare was held in Islamabad on Friday.

The primary goal of this training was to foster robust engagement with the private sector and facilitate public-private partnerships. Over 50 participants from ANTH and various private and public hospitals joined the sessions, led by Dr Irfan Waheed.

Dr Zafar Mirza highlighted a concerning statistic of 42 newborn deaths per 1000 live births in Pakistan. Initiatives like this training offer hope, signalling active collaboration among stakeholders dedicated to meeting national commitments aimed at reducing these distressing numbers.

The session was organized by Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital (ANTH) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  This initiative was established in close partnership with the Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) and the Neonatal Group. Notably, the collaboration involved the active participation of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, the Government of Pakistan, the World Health Organization (WHO), and representatives from all provincial governments of Pakistan.

Yasir Khan Niazi stressed, “It’s an honor for us to nurture future doctors equipped not just with willingness but also the essential knowledge and technical skills to combat Pakistan’s high neonatal mortality rate.”

Dr Inoussa Kabore emphasized the significance of uniting key stakeholders to deliver standardized training to pediatricians, with the ultimate goal of enhancing newborn healthcare and fostering better outcomes in Pakistan. The WHO representative echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of involving the private sector in healthcare initiatives and expressing hope for positive changes in the country’s neonatal survival rates through such joint endeavors.

Imran Ali Ghouri, Head of ANTH Communications, emphasized the transformative impact of this step in elevating neonatal care and enriching the expertise of the hospital’s paediatricians. He reiterated ANTH’s commitment to spearheading similar initiatives in partnership with UNICEF, WHO, the Federal Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders.