Fiji has a high rate of infection in babies which results in babies being sent to intensive care.
These common infections in infants include boils, pneumonia, skin infections and illnesses.
This was stated by Melbourne’s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute public health pediatrician, Professor Fiona Russell at the launch of the MaPei program.
The MaPei program is a study which involves giving oral antibiotics to healthy women in labour with the aim of reducing infection rates.
Professor Russel will who will be working closely with Acting Medical Superintendent of the CWM Hospital, Dr James Fong and Dr Ilisapeci Vereti says it is common for women to carry disease‑causing bacteria on different parts of their bodies including the skin and nasal passages, without knowing it.
She adds these are the kind of interventions that they wish to be able to be involved in to see progress with the growth of our small babies.
Meanwhile, Dr James Fong highlighted that Fiji has seen much expansion in the services of the Ministry of Health over the years and now they have to look for strategies that will allow people to benefit from this.
The MaPei program is funded by Melbourne’s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
ADVERTISEMENT
