Essential Newborn Care

Unang Yakap Campaign

The 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.
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.