To curb the increasing rate of neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria, a university don has advised that every birth should be attended to by competent health practitioners.
“It is imperative to have skilled attendants at birth. It is out of ignorance trying to force a baby to breath. Infants should begin breathing on his or her own. Health care workers should help babies to breath and not suffocate them,” he noted.
“Everyone taking care of a pregnant woman requires training. We all should know how to help babies’ breath, especially health care workers. You do not beat a baby to breath, keep the baby dry and let the baby stay on the mother chest,” he added.
In her welcome speech, the Director, Institute of Child Health, University of Benin/University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Prof. (Mrs.) Ayebo Evawere Sadoh. stressed on the need for people who are actually working to take care of pregnant women to be well-trained.