By Amaechi Agbo

Determined to save the life every child at birth, a renowned consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist and Provost, ESUT College of Medicine, Enugu, Professor Uchena Ekwochi will on Friday, August 8, 2025 Launch “STOP ASPHYXIA MOVEMENT” (SAM) to save newborn lives.

The events will hold at the ESUT College of Medicine Auditorium, Parklane GRA, Enugu commencing from 11 am.

A Consultant in Public Health and Enugu State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ogbodo Okechukwu will be the Chairman of the unveiling while Ven. Prof. Kenechukwu Iloh, Consultant Paediatrician/Neonatologist, UNTH, will be the Guest Lecturer. He will be dissecting the topic “Asphyxia, a leading cause of preventable deaths in our newborns. What shall we do?”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ESUT Monitor on Thursday, Convener of SAM, Professor Ekwochi said that formation of the Stop Asphyxia Movement was borne out his years of consultancy in which he has overseeing the birth of over 7, 000 sick newborn babies and the need to rally support to save a newborn life.

He also spoke about the vision and mission of the Movement as well as categories of membership

“Birth asphyxia remains a major threat to newborns, leading to avoidable deaths and long-term health complications. This movement seeks to educate, advocate, and implement solutions to reduce asphyxia-related fatalities. It aims to serve as a platform for health workers, policymakers, and families to collaborate and take action. 

“SAM as a movement, is a product of my decades of experience as a Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist. SAM is very much open for interested individuals and lovers of newborns to join the movement to stop Asphyxia amongst newborns in our environment

“The vision is to stop Asphyxia amongst newborns in resources limited settings. The Mission is to – leverage on technology and establishment of an “Asphyxia Day” (AD); create massive awareness about asphyxia, train birth attendants on newborn resuscitation and other newborn care services and to promote facility delivery by pregnant women in our environment,” he said.

With the motto “Save the first breath, Save the future” Professor Ekwochi explained that membership of SAM has six categories which include Paediatrician/Neonatologists, Obstetricians, Nurses/Midwives, Policy Makers, Other Healthworkers interested in newborns health and Philanthropist and lovers of newborns.

Membership Registration is free while interested individuals are urged to contact 08032108401 and 08034354005 

“Together, we can stop asphyxia, protect our newborns, and secure their future! Spread the word! Let’s make Enugu a model for newborn care in Nigeria,” he emphasised.  

Asphyxia is a medical condition in a newborn caused by lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body usually caused by interruption of breathing or insufficient oxygen supply and resulting in unconsciousness and often death and the unveiling of SAM on Friday signals a giant leap towards curtailing one of the leading causes of newbor deaths in Nigeria.