First Lady Sajida Mohamed has stated that acquiring modern equipment for neonatal services (specialized medical care provided to newborns) and building human resources in the field are vital priorities.

She made these remarks while honoring and officiating the opening ceremony of the NeoCare Conference held today.

The First Lady noted that despite facing challenges when neonatal care services first began, significant progress has been achieved in the sector. She stated that the decisions made by doctors, alongside the care and encouragement provided by nurses, offer the greatest comfort to parents.

Emphasizing that every child born anywhere must receive comprehensive healthcare and safety, the First Lady noted that these services can only be delivered when equipped with both supplies and trained healthcare professionals. Therefore, she stressed that investments must be made to acquire specialized facilities, modern equipment, and medical technologies for the sector.

Madam Sajida stated that technology alone cannot save a life, explaining that while a machine can monitor a heartbeat, it takes trained individuals to interpret what the heartbeat indicates. She noted that ongoing training is always required to provide neonatal services, and that specialized education, mentorship, and opportunities for healthcare workers to learn from one another are essential.

She urged participants to apply the lessons learned from the conference into service delivery and to share that information with others working in the field. She also stated that gathering participants from various health centers to share experiences will serve as a major driving force for the development of the sector.

Expressing hope that neonatal care services will advance at a national level in the future, she requested that when identifying challenges and making decisions, consideration be given to the insights provided by service providers. She highlighted the need to resolve to ensure complete care for every child born today and tomorrow.

At the ceremony held to launch the NeoCare Conference, Madam Sajida inaugurated the NeoCare and NICU News Bulletin.