Professor Dr Grace Ayensu‑Danquah, Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Health, urged the government to increase funding for neonatal services and to strengthen follow‑up care for premature babies at the 3rd Purple for Prematurity Summit on Thursday.
She said that while survival is the first milestone, babies born too early often need specialised medical attention, continuous monitoring and sustained support to achieve healthy growth and development.
Ayensu‑Danquah highlighted existing government interventions such as the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER) and the expansion of community‑based newborn care services, and stressed the need for tighter collaboration between the state and health‑sector stakeholders to develop a national maternal and child health roadmap that guarantees quality care for every baby born too soon, too small or sick.
Selma Bentoom, founder of the African Foundation for Premature Babies and Children (AFPNC), also called for a National Action Plan on Prematurity and urged the government to integrate follow‑up care for premature babies into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) benefits package and to boost investment in neonatal healthcare.
Ms Bentoom added that efforts to save the lives of premature babies must be matched with sustained care to give them the best opportunity to grow and thrive.
Both leaders agreed that a comprehensive national strategy and increased funding are essential to improve outcomes for Ghana’s most vulnerable newborns.
