Thapathali hospital cuts neonatal deaths by over two-thirds in five years
Summary
Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Thapathali has cut neonatal deaths by more than two-thirds over five years through improved staffing, screening, infection control and a human milk bank. Hospital doctors say the progress shows further reductions are possible, though Nepal’s neonatal mortality remains high.
Key Points
- Neonatal deaths at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Thapathali have fallen from about 8 per 1,000 live births to around 2.5 over five years.
- Hospital officials credit the decline to more doctors and nurses, newborn screening, better infection control, and replacing formula milk with mother’s milk through a human milk bank.
- Dr Shree Prasad Adhikari said the hospital’s preventive measures have reduced newborn deaths, but more improvement is still needed.
- Experts say neonatal mortality in Nepal remains high at 17 per 1,000 live births, and the country aims to reduce it to 12 by 2030.
