In fact, the first 24 hours around childbirth and the first day of a baby’s life carry the greatest risk.
Unfortunately, mothers as well as health workers are not properly educated on this and as a result, Papua New Guinea loses 5-6 thousand newborn babies every year.
The main causes of these deaths are neonatal infection, birth asphyxia, prematurity and low birthweight, among a few others.
All these causes can be reversed with the practise of proper Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC).