Every year, a large number of newborns and infants die in Nigeria. Though improvements have been made, in 2020, 35.5 deaths per 1000 live births occurred in newborns before 28 days of age (neonatal mortality rate) and 59.1 deaths per 1000 live births in infants before the age of 1 year (infant mortality rate).

The sad reality is that Nigeria remains in the top 10 globally for deaths before 1 year of age. Many of these deaths are from preventable causes like infection, premature birth, and intrapartum-related events. Maternal mortality in Nigeria remains one of the highest in the world. Currently, only one out of every three babies is delivered in a health center, decreasing the mother and her newborn baby’s chance of survival.

From its opening in 2015 till date, Obijackson Women and Children Hospital (OWCH) has made immense progress in the fight to improve maternal, neonatal, and infant mortality said the Head of Hospital Services in OWCH, Dr. Ikechukwu Okonkwo, during a chat with select media personnel,

With its state-of-the-art equipment, highly trained human resources, conducive ambiance, and international collaboration, OWCH has made significant gains in its mission to contribute to reducing neonatal and infant deaths in our country.

According to Dr. Okonkwo, OWCH continues to tackle the menace with its facilities that care for mothers and newborn babies at Okija, Anambra State, in the Southeast of Nigeria.

On why the hospital is sited in Anambra State, Obijackson Foundation made the bold decision to invest in the community by establishing this state-of-the-art hospital where it is needed most, which is in the rural area where access to quality medical care is very sparse. According to Dr Okonkwo, “With its unacceptably high rate of neonatal mortality rate, the South-Eastern part of the country largely lacks advanced neonatal care facilities required to provide much-needed care. Hence, the hospital was built in the heartland of the South-East, at Okija, where it is easily accessible to all’’.

On how the hospital takes care of the children, Dr. Okonkwo stated that premature babies are resuscitated at the facility with advanced equipment including a T-piece resuscitator, an omnibus, a resuscitative neonatal intensive care incubator, and medications like surfactant and caffeine. Ventilators and other breathing support devices known as ‘CPAP’ or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure are being deployed in the management of infants born with respiratory distress. The hospital is supported by a state of –the art blood bank with expertise in blood products separation – only one of a few of its kind in Southeast Nigeria serving locations up to 800km away. We also have a full-service laboratory, pharmacy, and a Radiology department with highly qualified staff.”

On accessibility and logistics, Dr Okonkwo pointed out “We have emergency transport services with state-of-the-art ambulance services, transport/evacuation teams, transport incubators, oxygen, and air plants, which is why we have the regional referral hospital status for maternal and child health. The facility is also equipped with a helipad, which makes it easy for patients to be flown in from any part of the country” Dr Okonkwo added.

He revealed that OWCH medical staff conduct Community Outreach programs to sensitize pregnant women on how to take care of themselves and render community services through the Obijackson Foundation.

“The children’s hospital aims to be the leading hospital caring for children in the country. Collaboration with leading medical facilities globally is one of our strategies to help the hospital attain its goal of catering to pregnant women and newborn babies. It has active partnerships with The McGovern Medical School of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Medical Education International to name a few. OWCH serves as a key educational resource, serving to provide continuing medical education to health care workers regionally and nationally in addition to serving as a referral resource to regional hospitals.”

 “The hospital currently runs a programme in partnership with UTHealth, which provides capacity building to neonatologists and paediatricians nationally providing access to free high-level training in best practices in neonatal delivery and efficient management of neonatal risks,” Dr. Okonkwo added.