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'Nationwide data collection on birth defects': HPA on World Birth Defects Day

Ahmed Aiham
03 March 2020, MVT 18:47
Pregnancy diet
Ahmed Aiham
03 March 2020, MVT 18:47

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on the occasion of World Birth Defects Day (WBDD), revealed that the institution, in 2020, began recording data on birth defects from every region across Maldives.

As part of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s Southeast Asian 'Birth Defects Surveillance' programme established in 2015, Maldives began conducting training programmes throughout Kaafu Atoll till 2019. HPA confirmed on Tuesday, that with the beginning of 2020, the agency now receives nationwide data.

Each year on March 3, as part of the WBDD Movement, organizations and people unite to raise awareness on congenital anomalies. To recognize the many types of birth defects, the movement uses the social media campaign #manybirthdefects1voice

In 2019, Maldives recorded 283 newborns with birth defects.

According to the now-dated 'National Child Heath Strategy - Every Newborn Action Plan (2016-2020)', Maldives made "significant progress in reducing child and infant mortality" yet high neonatal mortality rates, which accounted for roughly 66 percent of all deaths in under-five children in 2012, represented a major challenge.

As per WHO reports from 2013 to 2014, congenital anomalies accounted for nearly 30 percent of all neonatal deaths in the country. "With improved infection prevention practices and management of asphyxia in newborns, birth defects become a larger proportional cause of neonatal mortality".

The two tertiary level hospitals, ADK Hospital and Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in capital city Male', in addition to HPA, linked most birth defects to congenital heart diseases.

ADK Hospital's infographic of the statistics recorded by the facility. INFOGRAPH: ADK HOSPITAL / TWITTER

Organizations and other relevant stakeholders are advocating to prevent birth defects, improving care for all individuals affected by complications and to identify the burden and causes of birth defects through research.

Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital joins the international social media campaign ' I CARE' to observe the World Birth Defects Day. PHOTO: INDIRA GANDHI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL / TWITTER

HPA also conducted special training within 'Facility Based Newborn Care', a key component in improving newborn health.

Furthermore, the agency advocated couples over the importance of family planning.

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Wondering how to prevent birth defects? Plan ahead for pregnancy. In addition to getting 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, make sure to regularly visit your doctor. It’s important for a woman to start prenatal care as soon as she thinks she’s pregnant, but it’s never too early to prepare for pregnancy. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/prevention.html #WBDDay #manybirthdefects1voice ••• ¿Quieres saber cómo prevenir los defectos congénitos? Planifica con anterioridad tu embarazo. Además de tomar 400 microgramos de ácido fólico todos los días, asegúrate de visitar regularmente a tu médico. Es importante para una mujer comenzar con los cuidados prenatales ni bien piense que está embarazada, pero nunca es demasiado temprano para prepararse para el embarazo. Conoce más en https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/Spanish/birthdefects/prevention.html #WBDDay #muchosdefectos1voz

A post shared by World Birth Defects Day (@worldbdday) on

It's never too early to prepare for pregnancy". PHOTO: WORLD BIRTH DEFECTS DAY / INSTAGRAM

WHO"s Representative to Maldives, Arvind Mathur previously stated that the island nation has to increase efforts to curb the ratio of babies born with birth defects, noting that special care must be placed on health during pregnancy and is a step that can reduce anomalies.

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