Paediatrician at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital), Dr Charlyne Kilba, has stated that Ghana could prevent about 72 percent of newborn deaths with improved care, particularly those that occur in the first 28 days of life, otherwise known as neonatal deaths.

Speaking at an event to commemorate World Patient Safety Day on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, she noted that the country is still far from meeting its child mortality reduction targets.

Dr Kilba explained that by implementing evidence-based interventions, about 72 percent of complications and deaths in newborns could be prevented.

“Safe care for every newborn, every new child is important because we are so far from our targets. We are not achieving or reducing our neonatal mortality.

"It is estimated that if we put in certain measures based on the data that we have to improve the quality and the safety of care that newborns get, at least we can reduce about 72% of the complications and the deaths in newborns," she noted.

Dr Kilba noted that child deaths outside the neonatal period are often linked to diarrhoea, pneumonia, malaria, as well as, accidents and trauma.

To reduce these risks, she noted that interventions must begin before conception, continue through pregnancy, and extend into delivery and newborn care.

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"We encourage women who are getting ready to have children, to see their doctors, identify whatever risk factors they have that may need to be properly controlled before they get pregnant. Now, during pregnancy, we want the mothers to register at the antenatal clinics. Most people want to wait until after the first trial, but the earlier the better.

"So, we try to identify risk factors that the mother may have, infections that may need to be treated, and optimise health during pregnancy and make sure that baby comes out as good as can be, including immunizations," she added.

She encouraged women to seek pre-pregnancy medical advice to manage risk factors, register early for antenatal care, and deliver in accredited facilities with skilled midwives capable of monitoring labour and intervening when necessary.

“Our midwives are trained to act quickly if a baby is in trouble. Infection prevention, clean hands, safe environments, and timely treatment are key to saving newborn lives,” she stressed.

The event brought together experts from various medical fields to shed light on the risks faced by newborns and children in health care and advocated for safe and respectful care for them.

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World Patient Safety Day highlights the need for practical and everyday measures that improve outcomes and protect lives.

The theme for this year is “Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child”.

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