July 11 marks the 35th World Population Day, an annual event established by the United Nations in 1990 to raise awareness about global population issues. This year, China highlights its significant achievements in preventing birth defects and ensuring the health of its newborns.
China has made remarkable progress in reducing infant and child mortality rates attributed to birth defects. The National Health Commission (NHC) reports a decrease of over 30 percent in both the infant mortality rate and the death rate for children under five caused by birth defects over the past five years. In 2023, these rates dropped to 4.5 per 1,000 and 6.2 per 1,000, respectively, showcasing notable improvements in newborn health.
A key factor in this success is China's expanded coverage of medical screening for birth defects. Pre-pregnancy checks and pregnancy screenings have reached impressive coverage rates of 96.9 percent and 91.3 percent, respectively. Early prevention and treatment are crucial in mitigating the risks associated with various birth defects, given their complex pathogenesis.
Efforts have also been intensified to ensure early detection and treatment for newborns with birth defects. This includes nationwide promotion of screening services for phenylketonuria, an inherited metabolic disease that can lead to growth retardation. Shen Haiping, an NHC official, emphasized, \"If children with this disease consume special milk powder in time, it can effectively alleviate intellectual impairment, allowing most to reach a normal level of intelligence.\"
Since 2014, a central public fund initiative has provided over 81,000 instances of financial assistance to children suffering from birth defects across the country. Looking ahead, the NHC's plan released in August 2023 aims to further reduce the infant mortality and death rates among children under five caused by birth defects to below 1 per 1,000 and 1.1 per 1,000, respectively, by 2027.
Future efforts will focus on expanding inclusive and accessible prevention services while strengthening personnel training in this field to ensure healthy childbearing continues to improve.
Reference(s):
World Population Day: China prevents birth defects to safeguard health
cgtn.com
