Health Ministry calls for expanded neonatal care services

The Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has called for greater investment in neonatal healthcare and comprehensive follow-up services to improve the survival and development of premature babies in Ghana.

She said babies born prematurely require sustained medical attention beyond the critical first days of life, noting that survival alone does not guarantee healthy growth and development.

According to her, premature babies need specialised healthcare, continuous monitoring and long-term support to address complications associated with early birth and improve their chances of living healthy lives.

Prof. Ayensu-Danquah made the remarks at the 3rd Purple for Prematurity Summit, where she highlighted the need for a coordinated national response to the healthcare needs of babies born too soon, too small or sick.

She outlined government interventions to improve maternal and newborn health, including the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER) and the expansion of community-based newborn care services.

The Deputy Minister said such interventions were important in reducing newborn deaths but stressed that more needed to be done to ensure premature babies received appropriate care throughout their early years.

She called for stronger collaboration between government and health-sector stakeholders to develop a national maternal and child health roadmap that guarantees quality healthcare for all babies, particularly those requiring specialised attention from birth.

Selma Bentoom, founder of the African Foundation for Premature Babies and Children (AFPNC), also called for a National Action Plan on Prematurity to provide a clear framework for addressing the needs of premature babies and improving the support available to their families.

She urged the government to include follow-up care for premature babies in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) benefit package to ensure that families could access essential healthcare services after discharge from hospital.

Ms Bentoom further called for increased investment in neonatal healthcare, emphasising that medical interventions to save premature babies must be followed by consistent care.

She said sustained support was critical to ensuring that children who survive premature birth have the opportunity to grow, develop and thrive.