Patna,(BiharTimes): With 80,000 newborn babies dying every  year Bihar accounts for the second highest number of neonatal  deaths in the country. 

As high as 20 per cent deaths take place due to asphyxia or  breathlessness. All these deaths are preventable. Talking to a section of media at the sidelines of the second  day of Neonatology Conference, the secretary of the National  Neonatology Forum (NNF) Dr Vikram Datta said to tackle deaths  caused due to asphyxia, NNF would organize a workshop to  train 35 doctors and nurses of Bihar and adjoining states on  December 8.

Eight doctors from Bihar would participate in it. They would  impart training to health workers at sub-centres. Doctors, who attended the meet, also expressed concern over  the rising number of preterm births in the country, which is  the biggest cause of neonatal deaths. They said preterm  births, that is delivery before 37 weeks as against 39 weeks,  have high risk of dying. The rate of mortality is much more  in delivery which takes place at the end of 34 weeks. 

Infection is another major cause of death.  Lack of poor health care services also cause a number of 
these deaths, which are preventable.  Dr Shikhar Jain, president of NNF, said health education is  missing from health care though the government makes loud  claim about it. Healthcare has yet not become a formidable  part of school curriculum.