Awareness Meeting Held in Balasore on National Newborn Day and World Prematurity Day By ZSS
Balasore, 17/11 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): An awareness meeting was held today at the District Training Hall on the occasion of National Newborn Day and World Prematurity Day 2025, organised with the support of the Balasore Zilla Swasthya Samiti. This year’s theme for National Newborn Day was “Newborn Safety: For Every Baby, Every Time, With Every Touch.”
The meeting was chaired by the District Medical Officer (DMO), Amulya Kumar Das. Women health workers, ASHA workers and mothers of newborns from various primary and Ayushman Arogya centres of the urban area attended the programme.
In his address, Mr. Das highlighted the major role pneumonia plays in newborn deaths and stressed the need for special care during the first 28 days of life. He urged everyone to stay alert and contribute towards achieving the goal of “Zero Newborn Deaths.”
Pediatric specialist Dr. Minakshi Ray explained the harmful effects of bathing a newborn or wiping with tissue paper within the first 28 days, warning that it increases the risk of infection and pneumonia. She advised all mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months. She added that if a child’s respiratory rate is 60 or more per minute (0–2 months), 50 or more (2 months to 1 year), or 40 or more (1 year and above), they must be taken to the nearest health centre without delay.
Dr. Pradip Kar (District Public Health Officer), Dr. Sanjib Kumar Pradhan (Additional Public Health Officer – Leprosy), Dr. Paresh Chandra Nandi (Additional Public Health Officer – Family Planning & Immunisation) and Dr. Sujit Narayan Mohapatra shared their insights on maternal care for newborns, correct breastfeeding practices and umbilical cord care.
At the end of the meeting, field-level health workers and ASHA workers were instructed to increase home visits and expand awareness on newborn safety at the community level.
The programme was successfully coordinated by Pradeep Kumar Sahu, In-charge District Communication Officer, and concluded with a vote of thanks by Jitendra Biswal of DMRCH.
