Bangladesh introduces new antiseptic solution to cut newborn deaths from infection

Bangladesh has introduced a new antiseptic solution for children to avoid umbilical cord infection, a major cause of newborn deaths.

Nurul Islam Hasibbdnews24.com
Published : 8 July 2015, 03:11 PM
Updated : 9 July 2015, 09:01 AM

The decision came after trials in the country revealed ‘chlorhexidine’ could cut at least 23 percent deaths of children in their first month of life.
  
The World Health Organisation has also included it on its list of essential life-saving commodities for women and children after similar results came from Nepal and Pakistan.
 
The stump of the umbilical cord is one of the routes of getting infections that account for about 30 percent of the total newborn deaths.
  
Save the Children that spearheaded the chlorhexidine trial in Bangladesh says applying this antiseptic to the stump, and then keeping it dry could seal this infection entry route.

Health Secretary Syed Monjurul Islam at the official launch of the antiseptic solution on Wednesday said the government had taken it as “a policy to integrate this into our system”.

“We are buying this to for distribution.” 
 
He said the government was eager to speed up the reduction of newborn deaths even further.

Game changer
 
Bangladesh has achieved MDG-4 by cutting under-five mortality rate to 46 per 1,000 births in 2013 from the 133 in 1990, when the target was set.
 
But of the total under-five deaths, 61 percent die during the first month of life. Most of them were “preventable with simple and cost-effective solutions”.

Many families driven by myths and misconceptions apply a paste of either turmeric powder or mashed rice or ash to the cord, raising the risk of infection and death.

The WHO, before chlorhexidine was found as miracle solution, used to recommend keeping the cord dry.

Dr Ishtiaq Mannan, Save the Children’s director for Health Nutrition and HIV/AIDS sector, termed the introduction of this new solution a “game changer” to bring down neonatal deaths in Bangladesh. 
 
But challenges to reach all newborn remained since 58 percent mothers deliver at the hand of unskilled birth attendant. 
 
Mannan said this challenge could be overcome “if we can properly run campaign”. 
 
“It’s like the way every family uses Savlon. This is also an antiseptic. 
 
“But you have to apply this to the stump of the cord soon after you cut it. Families can easily do it if they know about it,” he said.
 
“This should be made available everywhere so that it can be applied to each of the three million births a year,” he added.

Cheaper solution
 
Bangladesh has promised to end preventable child deaths by 2035. 

Chlorhexidine has been seen as a “cheaper and cost-effective” method as it costs only Tk 30 a bottle needed for one child.

“It could be even cheaper if pharmaceutical companies go for mass production,” Mannan told bdnews24.com, “but due to low profit, companies showed little interest in it.”
 
He said only one company was currently producing it and the government bought from them.
 
The launch on Wednesday witnessed the presence of senior health ministry officials including directors-general of both health and family planning wings, and representatives of donors and NGOs.

Melissa Jones, director for population, health, nutrition and education of the USAID that provided both technical and financial support for the chlorhexidine introduction, was also present.

Director General of the family planning directorate Nur Hossain Talukder said his staff can play “a big role” in reaching this product to all families as “they go to the doorsteps”.
 
“We can play a very important role in ensuring that it is available and is used in all births,” he said.