Ghana urged to scale up Neonatal Care as 8,400 children die yearly from preterm complications

New global estimates from the World Health Organization reveal that premature birth remains one of the leading threats to child survival, with about 13.4 million babies arriving preterm every year and nearly one million losing their lives due to related complications.

Ghana reflects this global trend: an estimated 128,000 babies are born too early annually, and roughly 8,400 children under five die as a result of preterm complications.

In many low- and middle-income countries, high preterm mortality is largely preventable. Interventions such as thermal care, breastfeeding support, basic infection prevention, and simple respiratory assistance can significantly improve survival but remain underused due to limited resources.

It is against this reality that the African Foundation for Premature Babies and Neonatal Care (AFPNC) is pressing for stronger governmental commitment to newborn and premature baby care. The organisation renewed this appeal during the second edition of the Purple for Prematurity Summit held on November 12, 2025, in Accra.

AFPNC Founder Selina Bentoom reiterated that families should never be pushed into economic hardship when seeking medical care for vulnerable newborns. She urged policymakers to broaden the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to fully cover essential neonatal services, noting that improved funding is crucial to reducing preventable deaths.

“Our call to action is for stakeholders to scale up investment in neonatal healthcare. NHIS coverage for neonatal care should be increased so that essential services are fully accessible,” she stated during the summit.

Adding her voice, Executive Director of the Salt and Light Ministry, Dr. Joyce Aryee, underscored that national development is impossible without a healthy population. She emphasized that strong political commitment and continuous investment in preterm care are vital to fixing long-standing gaps in the health system.

General Overseer of the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry, Rev. Steve Mensah, also appealed to leaders and partners to provide not only financial assistance but also emotional and psychological support for parents—especially those in deprived communities who often struggle the most.

“We must make direct investments into preterm care because ordinary Ghanaians cannot afford it,” he noted.

As discussions continue, the Purple for Prematurity Summit remains a key platform for mobilisation, policy advocacy, and collaboration among health professionals, civil society, and government actors. Organisers say the goal is simple yet urgent: to improve the survival and well-being of premature babies across the country through deliberate, coordinated national action.