PNG still has high neonatal mortality rates, with around 5000 – 6000 babies dying every year.
Sadly, this deaths are from preventable diseases.
And one of such, not widely known however, is Hypothermia or low body temperature - when the baby’s temperature falls below 36.5 degrees.
Hypothermia prevention and management can save up to 42 percent of neonatal deaths as well as ensuring healthy growth and development of the baby.
In effort to address this, a new innovative device, locally renamed as Bebi Kol Kilok was trialled in the country - at the Port Moresby General Hospital, Goroka Provincial Hospital and Henganofi district of Eastern Highlands Province
This device is a hypothermia bracelet, which detects the baby’s temperature.
It’s put on the baby’s writs immediately after birth, monitoring the newborn continuously for a month.
If the baby is hypothermic, the device sounds an alarm enabling the parent to trigger Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) including breastfeeding and swaddling before severe hypothermia can cause death.
If the alarm continues, skilled care should be sought, to prevent severe infection.
With UNICEF’s technical support, this Implementation Research was conducted by the National Department of Health in partnership with Paediatric Assocation of PNG, UPNG, UPG and local community in Henganofi district.
To date, 448 newborns have been enrolled as cases wearing the Bebi Kol Kilok bracelet and 369 newborns without bracelet in the control group.
Mothers of both groups have received training on thermal care and other essential newborn care.
(File picture)