Partners Call for Government-Led Multisectoral Commitment towards Accelerating Action to End Preventable Neonatal Deaths

LUSAKA, Zambia, 17 November 2025 – The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with implementing partners, stakeholders, and frontline health workers, today commemorated World Prematurity Day under the global theme, “Give preterm babies a strong start for a brighter future.” The event was officiated by the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Elijah J. Muchima, MP, represented by the Provincial Health Director, Dr. Simulyamana Choonga, and served as a platform to reaffirm Zambia’s commitment to improving care for newborns, especially those born too soon or too small.

Globally, prematurity remains the leading cause of neonatal mortality. According to recent UN estimates, nearly 1 in 10 babies worldwide is born prematurely, and complications from prematurity account for over 900,000 deaths annually, making it the single largest cause of death among newborns. These numbers are not just statistics. They represent families, dreams, and futures cut short.

“World Prematurity Day calls for urgent action to improve the health and wellbeing of premature babies from the very beginning. Compassionate, timely, and quality care can make all the difference, not only for survival, but for catch-up growth and the opportunity to thrive. This year’s theme echoes the World Health Organization’s message for World Health Day: Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures.’ A strong start means meeting the needs of every baby during pregnancy, labor, and delivery,” said the Provincial Health Director, Dr. Simulyamana Choonga.

Zambia has made notable progress in reducing neonatal mortality, with rates declining from 27 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 17 per 1,000 live births, according to the Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS 2024). However, prematurity remains a leading cause of neonatal deaths, accounting for over 30 per cent of cases. The national preterm birth rate is estimated between 11 per cent and 13 per cent, placing Zambia among countries with a substantial burden of prematurity. Considering the number of live births in the country, this means that over 15,000 newborns die each year in the country before reaching their first month of life.

“UNICEF is committed to ensuring every newborn in Zambia gets the care they need from day one. Through the Every Where Every Newborn Action Plan, we are supporting the Ministry of Health to strengthen maternal and newborn services, scale up Special Newborn Care Units, and promote life-saving practices like Kangaroo Mother Care. With partners such as the European Union, we are equipping facilities, training health workers, and keeping mothers and babies together—because every child deserves an equal chance to survive and thrive,” stated Atnafu Getachew Asfaw, Chief Health, UNICEF Zambia. 

“We call upon all stakeholders to mobilize resources to support the lives of our smallest fighters amongst us, the ones struggling to breathe, struggling to keep warm, struggling to fight infection because they were born too early. However, being born too early should not be a death sentence if we prioritize the lives of these little angels irrespective of where they are born,” stated Dr. Moses Chirwa, Project Director for Mayi Na Mwana II, on behalf of Catholic Relief Services and other NGOs.

To ensure that every preterm baby in Zambia and around the world is given the strong start they deserve and the opportunity to thrive, the Ministry of Health and partners highlight the need to strengthen action in the following areas:

• Government and stakeholders increase investment in essential and special newborn care, ensuring that at least every district hospital is equipped to provide care for small and vulnerable newborns including Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC).
• Frontline health workers continue championing compassionate, evidence-based care for preterm babies, giving them the best chance to survive and thrive.
• Families and communities support mothers of preterm babies with empathy, care, and awareness—because every baby deserves a strong start.

Note to editors:

Kangaroo Mother Care guidelines

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mRyPrlCCKI1VkwaD_6jJ9xaIm2AYWiGZ/view?usp=sharing

For further inquiries, please contact:

Ministry of Health Zambia – Communications Lead | +260-976179942 | [email protected]

Betty Chella Nalugwe, Communication Officer, UNICEF Zambia. Email: [email protected]