Sat Dec 07 19:04:56 UTC 2024: ## National Neonatology Forum Aims to Slash India’s Neonatal Mortality Rate
**Chennai, December 8, 2024** – The National Neonatology Forum of India (NNF) is holding its 43rd annual convention, Neocon 2024, with the ambitious goal of reducing India’s neonatal mortality rate (NMR) to a single digit by 2030. The three-day convention, which concluded on December 8th, brought together 1,000 delegates and 150 faculty members from 20 countries for lectures and hands-on training sessions.
Currently, India’s NMR stands at 29 deaths per 1,000 live births. The NNF aims to lower this to nine per 1,000 by 2030. Dr. Deepa Hariharan, senior neonatologist and media coordinator for Neocon 2024, highlighted that prematurity and low birth weight account for nearly half of neonatal deaths, with the majority occurring within the first week of life.
The convention emphasized the crucial role of antenatal, obstetric, and delivery room interventions, which Dr. Hariharan stated could prevent 40% of neonatal deaths. Another 30% could be prevented through enhanced care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), and the remaining 30% through community-based initiatives focusing on exclusive breastfeeding, kangaroo mother care, infection control, immunization, and timely follow-up. The NNF stressed the importance of screening pregnant women for anaemia, malaria, and other infections.
Organising chairperson Arasar Seeralar and organising secretary S. Srinivasan also attended the convention. The NNF’s concerted efforts underscore the urgent need to improve newborn care across India.
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