'Every journey matters,' WHO urges global action on World Birth Defects Day

'every journey matters,' who urges global action on world birth defects day

Representative Image

New Delhi [India], March 2 (ANI): As the world commemorates World Birth Defects Day 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) directs attention to the pivotal theme, “Every Journey Matters.”

As stated in the WHO press release, “Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, underscores the significance of acknowledging and safeguarding health from its very inception – during intra-uterine life.”

“We are reminded that “Every Journey Matters,” and the journey of health indeed begins before birth,” the release says.

“This resonates with the WHO’s commitment to fostering global awareness about birth defects and accelerating actions to prevent, detect, and manage these congenital anomalies,’ as per WHO press release.

“I am heartened that a regional implementation guidance on universal newborn screening of three conditions (hearing impairment, eye abnormalities, and neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia) is being released on this occasion to facilitate capacity-building of Member States,” the release added.

Globally, the contribution of birth defects to the cause of death among under-5 children has seen an unfortunate surge. Between 2000 and 2021, the WHO South-East Asia Region has witnessed an alarming increase from 4% to 11%.

Additionally, Birth defects now stand as the third most common cause of death among under-5 children in the region, accounting for a staggering 11% of total deaths, equivalent to the loss of 300 young lives each day.

Wazed notes that while genetics plays a significant role in the aetiology of birth defects, many are preventable by addressing environmental factors.

The WHO has been actively supporting Member States since 2014, focusing on reducing maternal, newborn, and child mortality. An integrated approach has been adopted to implement interventions for the prevention and treatment of birth defects in existing national programs.

Moreover, the WHO’s South-East Asia Region has taken significant strides in strengthening preventive measures. Routine childhood rubella vaccination has accelerated, achieving an average coverage rate of 92% for the first dose.

Additionally, countries like Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste have successfully eliminated rubella, with no reported cases of congenital rubella syndrome.

On this World Birth Defects Day, the WHO issues a “call for action” in five key areas. Member States are urged to prioritize birth defects in their agenda, enhance commitment and leadership, and allocate appropriate financial resources.

The WHO emphasizes the importance of the newly released regional guidance on universal new-born screening for three conditions and stresses the need to improve preventive interventions, strengthen community-based support networks, and sustain and expand surveillance of birth defects.

As WHO reaffirms its commitment to the “survive, thrive, and transform” agenda, the global community is called upon to unite in the shared responsibility of ensuring that every journey towards health is safeguarded from its very beginning. (ANI)

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

News Related

OTHER NEWS

From arts to sciences: Once a teacher, always a teacher

Despite doing education at the university, Mellon Kenyangi, also known as Mama Bear, did not think of going to class, and teaching students was her dream job.“Since it was not ... Read more »

WC squad was picked on players’ performance, says Pramodya

213 Sri Lanka Cricket’s Chairman of Selectors, Pramodya Wickramasinghe reported to the Sports Ministry’s Special Investigation Unit( SMSIU) for the Prevention of Sports Offences yesterday for the second day. He ... Read more »

Malindu Dairy bags Industrial Excellence Silver Award

137 Malindu Dairy (Pvt) Ltd., a leading food production company in Sri Lanka, won the Silver Award in the medium-scale dairy and associated products category at the Industrial Excellence Awards ... Read more »

Africans Urged to Invest Among themselves, Explore Investment Opportunities in Continent

Africans Urged to Invest Among themselves, Explore Investment Opportunities in Continent Addis Ababa, November 27/2023(ENA)-The Embassy of Angola in Ethiopia has organized lecture on the “Foreign Investment Opportunities in Angola ... Read more »

Mohan Wimalaratne will lead Police this season

144 The dynamic front row player Mohan Wimalaratne will lead the Police Sports Club Rugby team at the upcoming Nippon Paint Sri Lanka Rugby Major League XV-a-side Rugby Tournament scheduled ... Read more »

Church assists the disabled in Bulawayo

Dozens of people living with disabilities from New Hope Inclusive in Entumbane, Bulawayo on Saturday last week received an early Christmas gift in the form of groceries. The groceries were ... Read more »

Somalia Joins East African Community

The East African Community (EAC) Summit of Heads of State has admitted the Federal Republic of Somalia to the regional bloc, making it its 8th member country. The decision was ... Read more »
Top List in the World