A Professor of Paediatrics at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Prof. Uchenna Ekwochi, on Thursday, identified inability to initiate and sustain respiration (asphyxia), prematurity and infection as leading causes of newborn mortality.
Prof. Ekwochi, who is the Provost of the Enugu State University College of Medicine (ESUCOM) explained that if the process of birth is laborious, the newborn may suffer a multi-systemic stress leading to asphyxiation which may cost the life of the newborn.
He made the disclosure while discussing the topic “The Travails of the Minor of Minors in Our Resource Limited Settings: Unveiling the Neglected Roadmap to Addressing the Giants and Taming the Tide,” as the 46th inaugural lecturer of ESUT, at the capacity-filled College Auditorium in Parklane, Enugu State.
In the case of premature birth, he explained that the travails would be enormous for the newborn due to the immaturity of the organs and systems to assume physiologic functions to sustain life independent of its mother.
A renowned National Trainer in Newborn health, with 22 years of experience in paediatrics, Ekwochi
equally explained that if the process of delivery and care in the child’s immediate environment is not optimal, the baby may become infected (neonatal sepsis.)
Prof Ekwochi further stressed that the three aforementioned factors stand as giants claiming the lives of the newborns globally, adding that Sub-saharan Africa, and Southern and Central Asia bear the heaviest burden of newborn deaths.
He also identified poor parental background, rural births, maternal age and no maternal education as associated causes of high newborn mortalities in the country.
While calling for the inauguration of ESUT Asphyxia Day, he recommended the re-accreditation of all maternities and facilities used for delivery, government subsidization and regulation of cost of child birth in approved delivery centres.
In his opening address, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, thanked the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his continued support to the Institution, stating that ESUT boasts of state-of-the-art equipment, especially in medical disciplines courtesy of the state government’s support.
While commending the lecturer for a good outing, the Vice Chancellor used the occasion to re emphasize the importance of inaugural lectures, stating that they serve as public acknowledgement of professors’ academic achievements, as they afford the lecturers the opportunity to showcase their research, innovations, engagements and teaching endeavours as well as their future research plans.
He also thanked the Chairman of the ESUT Governing Council, Sir,Chinyeaka Ohaa, and another member of the Council, Sir Dr. Innocent Akuvue, for their support for academic excellence through N1000,000, N500, 000 largesse to every inaugural lecturer.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Secretary to Enugu State Government SSG, Prof Chidiebere Onyia feted the Inaugural Lecturer for the rich content, and excellent delivery of his lecture and the ways forward.
The SSG noted that the lecture was good enough to provoke governments attention at State and national levels and therefore called on the lecturer to liaise with the most outstanding Vice Chancellor in Nigeria (Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie) to package a proposal on the need for “Asphyxia Day” to the State Government for further discussions.
While also congratulating the lecturer, the chairman of ESUT Inaugural Lectures Committee, Prof. Mellitus Ezeamaenyi, stated that frequent academic discourses such as inaugural lectures have greatly improved the visibility and webo metric rankings of the University.
