Mexico Advances Early Life Care Initiatives

Mexico’s National Institute of Perinatology (INPer) strengthens newborn and early childhood health with specialized neonatal care and physician training, aiming to fortify public health through preventive care.  

INPer has one of Latin America’s most advanced neonatal intensive care units, staffed by around 40 neonatal nurses. The facility includes 16 specialized intensive care beds, ventilators, infusion pumps, monitors, and technology designed under international standards. 

The work of neonatal nurses is central to newborn health in Mexico, particularly in monitoring clinical conditions and detecting diseases through neonatal screening tests, according to Silvia Romero, Deputy Director of Neonatology, INPer.

Speaking on World Neonatal Nurses Day, Romero highlighted that neonatal nurses go beyond care by identifying complications and acting immediately. They manage highly sensitive procedures, such as dosing medication for babies weighing less than 600g, operating advanced equipment, guiding parents, and ensuring screenings are performed and recorded accurately.

The neonatal period, defined as the first 28 days of life, is the most fragile stage of human development, when infants adapt to breathing, regulating temperature, feeding, and building defenses against infection. Any complication during this time can threaten survival or cause long-term consequences, Romero explains.

Romero says that most neonatal complications are linked to maternal health issues such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, lupus, infections, or kidney conditions. She emphasizes the importance of proper prenatal care, including first- and second-level ultrasounds, metabolic monitoring, infection prevention, balanced nutrition with adequate iron, calcium, and omega fatty acids, and planning for delivery at a facility equipped for specialized care.

Recently, Mexico’s Ministry of Health announced it will offer six training courses for primary care physicians on the First 1,000 Days of Life Protocol, part of the National Medical Care Protocols (PRONAM). The protocol covers the period from the start of pregnancy through a child’s second year of life, encompassing 270 days of gestation and 730 postnatal days.

“From the Ministry of Health, we recognize that the first days, months, and years of life largely determine the future health of every girl and boy. For this reason, we have implemented measures to ensure comprehensive, evidence-based care during the first thousand days of life,” says David Kershenobick, Mexico’s Minister of Health.