Poor cord care practices and unnecessary caesarean-sections increase mothers' and a newborn's chances of getting sepsis, according to WHO. In some parts of Kenya, mothers apply soil and lizard faeces to freshly cut cords, a practice that amounts to poor care. The company manufactured an antiseptic gel used to prevent umbilical cord infections in newborn babies during the first 28 days of life. Chlorhexidine, for umbilical cord care, has a concentration of 7.1 per cent chlorhexidine digluconate, which delivers four per cent chlorhexidine. It is specifically formulated for umbilical cord care and is safe and effective in reducing neonatal sepsis due to bacterial exposure through the fresh umbilical cord stump.

Source: The Star September 13, 2017 15:33 UTC