The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for an end to preventable deaths of newborns and children under age 5, with all countries aiming to have a neonatal mortality rate of 12 or fewer deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030. However, the current trends are cause for alarm. According to UN IGME’s report in 2021, the neonatal mortality rate in the world is 17 per 1000 live births, and 63 countries are off track to meet the SDG target for neonatal mortality. If every country met or exceeded the SDG target, 8 million under-five deaths could be averted between 2021 and 2030.
The first month of life is the most vulnerable period for child survival, with 2.4 million newborns dying in 2020. Prematurity, asphyxia, infections and other conditions at birth and in the first 28 days of life are leading causes of death among children under 5 years of age. Every year, an estimated 15 million babies, that is, more than 1 out of 10, are born preterm, and this number is rising.
More than three quarters of premature babies can be saved with feasible, cost-effective care, such as essential care during child birth and in the postnatal period for every mother and baby, kangaroo mother care (the baby is carried by the mother with skin-to-skin contact and frequent breastfeeding). It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure those rights, which can end preventable child deaths and suffering for both children and their families.
A new edition of Essential Newborn Care Course
High-quality universal maternal and newborn health care is the right of every child and every pregnant woman everywhere. Over these years, WHO has launched a series of documents and updated guidelines to improve the care of newborns (see related publications on the right column).
The new edition of Essential Newborn Care Course (ENCC) developed by WHO and key partners and stakeholders is part of this set of resources. It focuses on the foundation of the essential care of every newborn and rights of newborns, nurturing care, and strengthened links to care in the community, and is flexible to be used for different settings and different course options depending on learners’ need. It bases on competencies and integrates existing newborn courses from around the world such as WHO Early Essential Newborn Care coaching, as well as Helping Babies Breathe and Helping Babies Survive.
Due to travel and meeting restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic, WHO, UNICEF and partners were able to conduct only limited field testing with users, prior to release of the interim version. Therefore, WHO launched this interim version for getting feedback on the course content and use of the materials.
Next steps
From the ENCC course page, register to login into the website to download and use the materials, and give us valuable feedback after using the materials at least once as a learner, facilitator, organizer or reviewer. Your feedback will be incorporated into the second edition and your contribution will be acknowledged.
Frequently-asked questions
Whose feedback are we looking for? No matter whether you are a course organizer, facilitator, lecturer, health worker or a student, your feedback is valuable to us. Register to download, review and use the course materials, give us your comments and inputs.
How can I access the ENCC materials? The interim version of ENCC can be accessed on the WHO website. Please register following the guidance on the ENCC landing page and then it will lead you to the ENCC repository page.
How can I submit my inputs? Download the feedback template following the guidance on the ENCC landing page, and read through it before organizing/taking the course. Take notes during the course using that template, and send it to us after the end of the course. More details can be found on the first page of that document.
What is the deadline for submitting feedback? We are open to receiving feedback up to 30th of September 2022. You can submit your feedback either by sending email or via the online survey platform (LimeSurvey).