Omnia has a better chance to survive
As UNICEF equips and refurbishes newborn care units in health facilities
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Twenty-year old Sarah Mohamed cuddles her 20-day old child Omnia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Saad Abu Alela Hospital, located in the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan’s capital.
Omnia was born with respiratory distress and has been in the NICU since birth.
Together with other small and sick neonates, Omnia is admitted in the specialized room where they receive treatment and attention.
Some neonates were born early and are placed in incubators at a womb-like temperature, others have breathing problems and rely heavily on machines for support while others are placed under photo therapy to overcome jaundice.
At the unit, machines beep constantly while seven health workers move from one corner to another feeding, observing, providing medication, changing diapers, adjusting the machines, throughout the day. They are on their feet and every activity must run like clockwork.
They are working tirelessly to save the small, sick babies.
During peak periods, the 20 bed unit is often full. The most common diagnoses among the neonates are sepsis, respiratory distress, and hospital acquired infections especially among those delivered through ceasarian section, while the most common causes of death are extreme prematurity especially those that register low birth weight and asyphexia (decreased oxygen at birth).
“Fortunately UNICEF provides medication for children below five years including antibiotics to cater to the infections,” says Dr. Salma Hassan Elbeely a trained Paeditrician and Neonatologist who oversees the NICU.
“These medicines are supplied to us free and without them, many mothers wouldn’t afford.”
Omnia makes progress
When we first arrived, my baby was tired. She was laboring to breathe which made her tired. When she is on the machine, she is much calmer. On her own, she struggles a lot,” Mohammed shared with a worried face. “My daughter’s situation worried me, and I too felt exhausted.”
It’s been 20 days now and Omnia continues to survive on oxygen.
“I owe the survival of my baby to this unit. Without the daily oxygen and treatment, she would not be alive,” Mohammed noted.
While Omnia’s condition has slightly improved, additional investigations indicate that she was born with a blocked nostril. Arrangements are underway for an operation by an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist to address the breathing challenge after which she will return to the NICU for recuperation.
UNICEF has equipped NICUs in hospitals with obstetric surgical kits, different types of midwifery and obstetric surgical kits, newborn resuscitators, oxygen concentrators and electronic baby scales as part of the essential supplies. The equipment is supporting safe deliveries and essential newborn care benefiting pregnant women and their newborns at various health facilities including Saad Abo Eleila Hospital.
Additionally, the support has also ensured UNICEF-supported trainings for obstetricians, pediatricians, general medical practitioners, registrars, and nurses on early essential newborn care.
The specialised trainings have enhanced the health workers’ knowledge and ability to quickly detect threats to vulnerable neonates like Omnia.
As Omnia awaits the operation, Sarah is confident that her baby is in safe hands. “ Am thankful for this unit, excellent service and the dedicated health workers that saved my baby and continue to take care of her,” she concluded.
