1 year after The Lancet Neonatal survival series: was the call for action heard?

This Lancet article asks what progress has been made in policy, funding, and programmes to address newborn survival, since the publication in 2005 of a series of articles highlighting the huge number of newborn babies who die every year in developing countries. The author finds that, although more attention is being paid to newborn health, the issue was still absent from the agendas of high-level forums such as the G8 summit, and still receives relatively little funding compared to initiatives such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The article argues that no country that is serious about the Millennium Development Goal on infant mortality can afford to omit newborn health interventions. It repeats the call made in 2005 for countries to develop newborn health plans by the end of 2007, and calls for these to be integrated with other relevant programmes. It also calls for governmental commitment and leadership, to ensure that plans are translated into actions. More funding is needed, and should be spent strategically, including investment in human resources. The article concludes with a call for donors and national governments to invest in programmes for maternal, neonatal and child care as a cornerstone for development and poverty alleviation.

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