Manila - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday urged Philippine hospitals to tighten infection-control measures to save babies from neonatal sepsis, a blood infection that kills nearly 8,000 infants in the country every year. The UN organization said measures such as safely cutting the umbilical cord, immediately placing the infant with its mother, exclusive breastfeeding within an hour of birth and rooming-in the baby with the mother helps protect babies.
In May, of 31 newborn babies who died in a hospital in metropolitan Manila, 27 died from neonatal sepsis.
"Newborns are very susceptible to infection because of their underdeveloped immune system," said Howard Sobel, a medical officer of WHO's Philippines country office.
"For that very reason, standards in hospital infection and control should be strictly enforced starting at birth," he said.
Sobel said that apart from maintaining clean a hospital environment, birthing women, hospital attendants and others handling babies should also observe strict personal hygiene, especially frequent hand washing.
He added that handling the baby and invasive interventions, such as setting up intravenous lines, should be conducted only when necessary.
"Initiation of breastfeeding in the first hour of birth is also a recommended preventive measure," Sobel said. "Newborns should be placed on the mother's bare abdomen or chest immediately upon birth."
Sobel added that good prenatal care can also prevent neonatal sepsis as well as many other conditions that can endanger the newborn.
