Essential Newborn Care, Unang Yakap Campaign

The Department of Health embarked on Essential Newborn Care , a new program to addressed neonatal deaths in the country. Under the umbrella of the Unang Yakap Campaign, Essential Newborn Care is an evidenced based strategic intervention aimed at improving newborn care and helping cub neonatal mortality.

The Essential Newborn Care package is a four-step newborn care intervention undertaken to lessen newborn death.

1. Immediate and thorough drying to stimulate breathing after delivery of the baby
2. Provision of appropriate thermal care through mother and newborn skin-to skin contact maintaining a delivery room temperature of 25-28 degrees centigrade and wrapping the newborn with clean, dry cloth.
3. Properly timed clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord, (1-3 minutes or until cord pulsation stops)
4. Immediate latching on and initiation of breastfeeding within first hour after birth.

Post-natal care required within 24 hours after birth also includes

• Cord care
• Breastfeeding
• Vitamin K injection
• Eye prophylaxis
• Delayed bathing until 6 hours of life
• BCG and first dose of Hepatitis B Immunization
• Newborn screening

The Essential Newborn Care Package aims to reduce newborn mortality rate from 13 deaths (2006 FPS, NSO) to 10 per 1000 live births by 2015.