Ludhiana, April 20
A conference of the National Neonatology Forum (NNF) was organised today by the Department of Paediatrics of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Dumra Auditorium. Dr O.N. Bhakoo, former Professor and Head, Department of Paediatrics, PGI, Chandigarh, was the chief guest.
The NNF is consistently working towards the mission of spreading awareness among medical fraternity and the public regarding the latest advances in the care of newborns by conducting lectures, meetings and conferences and by distributing literature. Owing to lack of awareness among people, infant mortality rate (IMR) is quite high in India.
The conference began with the welcome address by Dr S.C. Ahuja. Principal, DMCH. Thereafter, Dr Bhakoo inaugurated the event by lighting a lamp.
Dr H.S. Bains of the DMCH, outgoing president of the state unit of the NNF, handed over the presidentship to Dr B.K. Jain of the DMCH. Dr Puneet Pooni, scientific secretary of the conference, conducted the stage.
Addressing the conference, Dr Bains said two-third neonatal deaths in the country occurred in the first week of birth. Kerala had the lowest infant mortality rate and Madhya Pradesh had the highest. Mr Amrit Nagpal, secretary, Managing Society of the DMCH, released the latest issue of the NNF magazine — ‘Neonatal Times’. Dr J.P. Dadhich, secretary, NNF, released a book for young nursing mothers written by Dr H.S. Bains.
Dr B.K. Jain said in contrast to developed countries where the neonatal morality rate was 5 per 1,000 births, in India it was 43.4 per 1,000 births and the goal was to bring it down to 35 by the 2010. He also said around 70 per cent of the deliveries were still conducted in homes by untrained midwives.
In Punjab, the IMR was 40 in the urban population as compared to 58 in the rural area in 1998, he said.
Dr Bhakoo said the NNF was focusing more on the interaction of paediatrics with the public and paramedics for the complete success of its mission.
Dr Praveen Kumar of the
PGI delivered the guest lecture on the ‘Recent advances in the management of neonatal jaundice’. Dr Dhadhich highlighted recommendations on neonatal resuscitation. An interactive session on ‘Exclusive breast feeding’ was conducted by Dr Arun Gupta, National Coordinator, BPNI, New Delhi.
A workshop on the ‘Oxygen therapy in the newborns’ was organised by Dr Arvind Sally, Lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi. The case presentation regarding the ‘Management of post-asphyxiate newborn’ was presented by Dr S. Ramji, New Delhi. The conference concluded with the general body meeting and a valedictory function.
