World Birth Defects Day: WHO seeks to raise awareness, intensify measures to prevent birth defects

new Delhi: The World Health Organization defines birth defects as structural or functional anomalies (for example, metabolic disorders) that occur during intrauterine life. They can be recognized during pregnancy, at birth, and sometimes only after. Birth defects can be caused by one or more genetic, infectious, nutritional or environmental factors and are one of the most important causes of neonatal and childhood death, chronic disease and disability.

An estimated 303,000 newborns worldwide die every year due to birth defects. In addition to mortality, birth defects cause long-term disability, which has a significant impact on individuals, families, health care systems and societies.

On World Birth Defect Day, WHO and its member states raise their collective voice to raise awareness for all birth defects and improve access to quality care and treatment in the Southeast Asia region and globally. To mark the day’s awareness, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO for South-East Asia, made a long and informative statement that highlighted several important issues.

In its statement, it said there were more than 530,000 deaths globally due to birth defects in 2019, including more than 117,000 deaths in the region – about 22 percent of the global total. They were the third most common cause of child mortality in the region, and the fourth most common cause of neonatal mortality, accounting for 12 percent of all neonatal deaths. In addition to mortality, birth defects can cause long-term morbidity and disability, which in low- and middle-income countries places pressure on the health system and on social and family resources.

“Across all countries in the region, WHO will continue to intensify efforts to increase birth defect prevention, surveillance, care and research, intensifying the World Birth Defect Day (WBDD) movement,” he said. He further added, “In the midst of the COVID-19 response, WHO continues to support all countries in the region to protect, prevent and make progress in all areas of health, including maternal, newborn and children under five years of age.” accelerating the death rate in the U.S. – a major priority, since 2014.

All Member States have created national action plans to prevent and control birth defects, and have introduced hospital-based birth defect surveillance. Six member states – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar and Nepal – continue to provide high-quality data to the WHO-backed online surveillance database, which had registered more than 4 million births by the end of 2021. “Every year 45,000 babies are born with birth defects.

As part of region-wide efforts to eliminate measles and rubella by 2023 – another major priority – all countries in the region have introduced rubella vaccination of girls, reporting an average coverage of 83 percent.

Many member states have now fortified foods such as wheat flour with folic acid, vitamin B-12 and iron, and include interventions for general birth defect management and care within national child health programs. To achieve key goals and targets for the field – a 35 percent reduction in folic acid-preventable neural tube defects, a 50 percent reduction in thalassemia births, and the elimination of congenital syphilis – a number of priorities must be addressed. .

First, the gaps in rubella vaccination should be closed, and access to good quality antenatal care should be improved. Such care should include counseling that encourages pregnant women to avoid unnecessary drugs and X-rays, avoid exposure to toxic environmental elements, and avoid harmful products such as: Tobacco and alcohol.

Second, in addition to clinical and laboratory examination of newborns and infants, access to prenatal screening techniques such as ultrasound should be increased. Primary health care providers should be trained to support diagnosis and referral, which is possible in most health systems.

Third, the quality of medical medical, surgical, rehabilitation and palliative care services should be enhanced, and referral routes should be better defined and used. Affected children and their families should have continued access to appropriate mental health and psycho-social support services and be free from stigma and discrimination.

Fourth, data collection, monitoring and evaluation should continue to be strengthened, and policies and programs should be evaluated on an ongoing basis. Everything we do must continue to define equity, efficiency and impact.

Dr. Poonam concluded her statement by saying, “Our WBDD movement must continue to build. Birth defects are common, costly and significant. Across the region, they account for a large proportion of under-five mortality.” are responsible as other causes continue to decline. Together, we must continue to integrate interventions to enhance birth defect prevention, surveillance, care and research across program areas, accelerating progress towards our key priorities and the ‘Sustainable. Accelerate. Innovate’ vision.

On World Birth Defect Day, WHO reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that every woman and child can survive and thrive, and transform our region and the world.

“WHO’s South-East Asia region comprises 11 member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.