The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has recorded a 7% neonatal mortality rate for the month of November, a reduction from the last average of 35% for previous months.
According to a press release from the GPHC, the decrease has been attributed directly to a reinforcement of preventative measures currently in place at the institution, and its collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and the Canadian-based charity Guyana Help the Kids (GHTK.)
Inclusive in the preventative measures are: a full sanitisation of the maternal block of the hospital; and the closure to some rooms of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) as well as special areas in order to house and provide care for high risk babies. The release further said that mothers have also been encouraged to remain with their babies to access further neonatal care.
Other measures reinforced by the GPHC for all personnel include the proper infection control and strict guidelines for adorning clean clothing, gowns, masks and shoe covers, and 100% hand washing with appropriate solutions. These have all contributed to the significant reduction in the number of neonatal deaths, the hospital said.
The collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Health and the GTHK allow for training of doctors and nurses as well as the upgrade of equipment at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Similar preventative efforts are expected to commence at the NICUs at the New Amsterdam and the West Demerara Regional Hospitals, the release said.
