The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Reproductive and Child Health Division successfully participated from November 13th to15th in the 4th Biennial Meeting on Regional Progress in Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) Implementation; Ensuring institutionalization and sustainability of EENC through pre-service education and routine monitoring of quality of care at the Western Pacific Regional Officer (WPRO) in Manila, Philippines.
The EENC regional Meeting is usually held every two years to monitor the region’s progress in improving newborn health and outcomes. It focuses particularly on quality Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) implementation and improving access to skilled birth attendant care, based on the “Action Plan for Healthy Newborn Infants in the Western Pacific Region 2014-2020 (extended 2030).
Solomon Islands was one of the 9 priority countries that had the highest burden of neonatal mortality in 2014 and has been supported by WHO to implement the Action Plan for Healthy Newborn Infants in the Western Pacific Region.
Participated at the EENC meeting were; Child Health Division Director Dr Sarah Habu, National Newborn Health Coordinator Ms Anna Jatobatu and Paediatrics Consultant focusing on Neonatal Care Dr Carol Titiulu.
Reproductive and Child Health Division Director, Dr Sarah Habu explained the focus of this current meeting is in sustaining the EENC program by having it embedded in pre-service trainings for health workers and strengthening routine monitoring to ensure continuous quality of EENC.
“EENC was introduced to the Solomon Islands in 2015. We have seen a reduction in neonatal mortality rates from 15 per thousand live births to 7 per thousand live births. We need to sustain this momentum, not only to further improve on the mortality rates but also the quality of EENC provided to improve on outcomes for the newborn and their families and so that every newborn can reach their full potential”, said Dr Habu.
Meanwhile, during the meeting, countries shared their situations, challenges, and solutions through a country poster showing data for EENC indicators. SI was commended for having up-to-date data in the online platform used to develop the country posters. Countries also shared experiences through poster presentations of studies conducted in their countries, building further evidence supporting EENC interventions and experiences.
Ms Anna Jatobatu, the National Newborn Health Coordinator presented a poster of the SI experience in skill and knowledge retention of health workers, 2 years after receiving EENC coaching training. Participants conducted gallery walks through all the poster presentations, learning from each other and applying learnings to their country situations. At the end of the meeting, each country was able to develop a road map of priority areas and actions for the next two years.
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