The equipment used in transport must comply with several general characteristics:
• Appropriate for the age group and for the health problems to be managed.
• Lightweight, portable, rugged and easy to clean
• It must be securely fastened in the transport vehicle for patient and equipment safety.
• Tested in transport conditions (temperature, altitude, vibration).
It is essential to have equipment that allows for:
El Código se aplica en todos los países, con independencia de lo establecido en las políticas nacionales sobre la alimentación de los lactantes cuyas madres están infectadas por el VIH. La aplicación del código es fundamental para que no disminuyan las tasas de lactancia materna.
Human milk is the best food for newborns, even if they are small, premature or sick. Breastfeeding improves infant survival, health and development. It is also associated with better neurodevelopmental outcomes and less obesity, hypertension and insulin resistance in adolescence, among many other benefits.
The daily application of chlorhexidine to the umbilical cord stump in the first postnatal week is a recommendation that depends on the settings.
The only scenario that supports its use is where traditionally noxious substances (e.g., animal manure) are used on the umbilical cord. In newborns with unhygienic cord care (defined as the use of noxious substances on the cord, such as dust, clay, mud, and animal manure), chlorhexidine reduced mortality.
In addition to the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Human Milk Substitutes, other complementary actions are needed to promote the optimal feeding of infant and young children. The Breastfeeding Promotion Initiative led by WHO and UNICEF, aims to increase global commitment to breastfeeding. In addition to achieving full implementation of the code through strong legal measures, the initiative's call to action urges governments, donors and partners to do the following:
• Increase funding for breastfeeding promotion initiatives.
Any type of promotion of breastmilk substitutes, bottles and teats should be completely prohibited at health care facilities, as established by the International Code of Marketing of Human Milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant resolutions of the World Health Assembly. In addition, no free or subsidized donations of breast milk substitutes or other products, gifts or samples may be given to health workers at any health system facility.
The International Code of Marketing of Human Milk Substitutes requires appropriate actions to enforce its principles and objectives, including the adoption of national laws and regulations or other relevant measures. All actions should be made public. Since the code is a minimum requirement, governments can adopt additional measures - potentially more stringent than those set out in the code - and make them legally binding.
As efforts to improve the outcomes of neonatal survival are scaled up, there is an increased demand for access to safe and effective transport.
Improving the procedures related to neonatal transport and the quality of care in critical conditions requires evidence-based technical guidelines as a reference for agencies, facilities, and health professionals responsible for setting health system priorities and policies around newborn transport.
Regionalization poses the challenge of defining where to assign resources to intensive care, transport or prevention and primary care.
Neonatal transport should be seen in the context of regionalized perinatal care, which encompasses the care of the pregnant woman and her fetus, the mother-to-be and her baby.
Interventions to support responsive caregiving during the postnatal period should focus on promoting positive interactions and strengthening the caregiver/infant relationship.
Health care workers should encourage mothers, fathers, and other caregivers to be aware and responsive, responding to the child's needs, cues, clues, behaviors, and desires.
It is important to encourage caregivers to develop skills in the contexts of play, communication and feeding, such as breastfeeding on demand.