Newborn health in the Western Pacific

A newborn infant, or neonate, is a child under 28 days of age. During these first 28 days of life, the child is at highest risk of dying. The vast majority of newborn deaths take place in developing countries where access to health care is low.  

Promoting newborn survival requires building strong health services, ensuring that every birth is attended by skilled personnel and making hospital care available for emergencies. It is crucial that early essential newborn care is provided, including immediate and prolonged skin-to-skin contact and early and exclusive breastfeeding, to improve chances of survival and to lay the foundations for a healthy life.