Focussing on the need for Advanced Neonatal Life Support (NALS) to reduce infant mortality and morbidity, a workshop was held on Sunday at Ernakulam Medical Centre (EMC) in which nurses from various city hospitals were given hands-on training.

As the first 30 minutes after birth is critical for a new-born, the labour rooms should be equipped with trained personnel as well as adequate facilities to make sure that the new-born is given the necessary support to avoid complications and even death.

Even though hospitals are equipped with the resuscitation sets they are not fully utilised, opined doctors who attended the workshop. Most of the infant deaths occur in the first 2 days after delivery and the reason for the deaths could be traced to problems in the first few minutes of birth.

With nurses being present in the labour room throughout, they should be given basic training in this programme.

Organised by the Kerala chapter of the National Neonatal Forum (NNF) and Kochi branch of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), this programme is being held statewide to reduce infant mortality rate.

"It answered questions regarding various aspects of neonatal care, like drying the baby and giving medical oxygen. Immediate attendance has a crucial role to play in saving the life of a baby," says Dr M Narayanan, secretary of Kochi branch of IAP.

Around 50 nurses from various city hospitals attended the workshop, which was inaugurated by Ombudsman Justice K P Radhakrishna Menon.

Dr Newton Luiz, secretary of NNF, Kerala, spoke on equipment used in resuscitation while Dr Jeeson C Unni, consultant pediatrician of Kunjalu's Nursing Home, presented recent guidelines on neonatal resuscitation, and Dr Tonny Mampilly, consultant pediatrician of PVS hospital, explained drugs in NALS.

Dr T V Ravi, head of the department of pediatrics, EMC, Dr Grace Thomas and Dr M Suma, neonatologists of EMC also spoke.

IAP is planning to conduct this programme once in 4 months to train fresh batches of nurses.