On

December 7, 2009, the Department of Healthlaunched the Unang Yakap Campaign. With this campaign, the DOH aims to cut down infant mortality in the Philippines by at least half. The campaign employs Essential Newborn Care (ENC) Protocol as a strategy to improve the health of the newborn through interventions before conception, duringpregnancy, at and soon after birth, and in the postnatal period.

The ENC Protocol provides an evidence-based, low cost, low technology package of interventions that will save thousands of lives. Based on health statistics, the Philippines is one of the 42 countries that account for 90% of under-five mortality worldwide. 82,000 Filipino children under five years old die every year. 37% of them are newborn. Majority of them (3/4) die within the first two days of life. Mostly due to stressful events or conditions during labor, delivery and immediate postpartum period.

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current practice of handling newborns, like clamping and cutting the umbilical cord and washing the baby right after birth, have been known to actually contribute to the high incidence of neonatal deaths and illnesses in the country. Thus the need for a paradigm shift from the prevailing standard procedures into the new protocol. Health Secretary Duque explained that the ENC Protocol involves focusing on the first hours of life of the newborn with the manual guiding health workers in providing evidence-based essential newborn care.

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bound procedures should be routinely performed first immediate drying, skin-to-skin contact followed by clamping of the cord after one to three minutes or until pulsations have stopped, non-separation of the newborn from the mother and breastfeeding initiation.

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time-bound interventionshould only be done after the first full breastfeed. These are immunizations, eye care, Vitamin K administration and weighing. Washing must be postponed by at least 6 hours as this will hinder the crawling reflex.

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so-called unnecessary procedures include routine suctioning, routine separation of newborns for observations, administration of prelacteals like glucose, water formula and footprinting.

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Department of Health embarked on Essential Newborn Care , a new program to address neonatal deaths in the country. Under the umbrella of the Unang Yakap Campaign, Essential Newborn Care is an evidenced based strategic intervention aimed at improving newborn care and helping cub neonatal mortality.

The Essential Newborn Care package is a four-step newborn care time-bound intervention undertaken to lessen newborn death.
1. Immediate and thorough drying to stimulate breathing after delivery of the baby 2. Provision of appropriate thermal care through mother and newborn skin-to skin contact maintaining a delivery room temperature of 25-28 degrees centigrade and wrapping the newborn with clean, dry cloth. 3. Properly timed clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord, (1-3 minutes or until cord pulsation stops) 4. Non-separation of the newborn and mother for early breastfeeding. Immediate latching on and initiation of breastfeeding within first hour after birth.

5. Post-natal care required within 24 hours after birth also includes Cord care Breastfeeding Vitamin K injection Eye prophylaxis Delayed bathing until 6 hours of life BCG and first dose of Hepatitis B Immunization Newborn screening

The Essential Newborn Care Package aims to reduce newborn mortality rate from 13 deaths (2006 FPS, NSO) to 10 per 1000 live births by 2015.

Unang Yakap aims to save newborn lives.