Dear of CHIFA,
All of us want to prevent mortality of newborns, however morbidity is also important.
I report the lack of attention given to birth asphyxia worldwide. I never read about prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) in a Country, despite the fact that many are children affected by consequences of birth asphyxia. It suffices to go in a village and ask about disable/home ridden children: they are many and...invisible.
CP presents with many aspects but one main cause: a damage to the brain that occurred during pregnancy or intrapartum. Both indicate a certain degree of poor obstetric care(not always however). To know prevalence of CP in a country is important if we want a future of newborns alive and healthy.
Greetings from Dodoma
Massimo
CHIFA Profile: Massimo Serventi is a long-standing Pediatrician working in Africa since 1982. He currently works on a volunteer basis in an excellent missionary/credited hospital in north Uganda, St. Mary's Hospital-Lacor-GULU. He has worked for several NGOs in 6 African/2 Asian countries. His interests include clinical and community pediatrics, adherence to clinical guidelines and school education as the major determinant of good health.
