Neonatal deaths

 Pakistan has the world’s third highest national number of newborn deaths (194 000 in 2010). “According to the most recent Pakistan demographic and health survey (PDHS) of 2012-13, the perinatal deaths (stillbirths and newborn deaths within the first week) is about 75 per 1,000 pregnancies of which about half (35/1,000) is due to stillbirths. But there is no information on how many of these are due to complications during delivery and how many due to other causes," There is need to focus and intervene on three critical areas : safe pregnancy, antenatal, and delivery care and newborn and infant health. It can be ensured through increase understanding of health-seeking behavior in order to inform healthcare interventions, evaluate national program strategies, and scale up proven delivery models. The first 28 days after birth are the most vulnerable period of a newborn’s life. With the highest rate of intra-partum deaths (stillbirths) and first day deaths of newborns, Pakistan is ranking painfully on top of the list of countries having high newborn mortality. No wonder why the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey in 2013 also reported a frozen newborn mortality rate in the country over last couple of decades. The relative proportion of newborn deaths out of the total under 5 years mortality has reached the maximum range of 63% indicating a pitiful failure of the development sector in tackling this challenge in Pakistan. Many researches show that the causes of newborn deaths which are mostly preventable using low-cost, low-tech proven solutions. Lack of universal coverage of skilled birth attendants is an important grey area. Newborn deaths can be prevented each year if essential health services are more equitably distributed. Recognizing the importance of this critical health service, we have to identify all associated challenges of current situation of public health planning and policy in our country .A key role can be played by our policy makers for this situation to modify our policies and plans in light of the available global and national guidance because a healthy future depends of change and future implications for improve Newborn survival in Pakistan.