Back and Next - Back and NextWOMEN’S WEEKLY: Maternal and newborn mortality is not a communicable disease, says DPS Susso
Friday, November 28, 2008
Mr Sainey.B.Susso, deputy permanent secretary at the department of state for Health and Social Welfare and who also double as the liaison officer at West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has disclosed that, maternal and newborn mortality is not a communicable disease, it is a social injustice and silent tragedy that rock families by the day as complications of pregnancy and child birth remain the leading cause of death among women in their reproductive age.
DPS Susso make this remarks at the closing ceremony of a nine day training of trainers on community base care of the new born, held recently at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Senegambia.
“We cannot prevent complication of pregnancy and child birth but, we can avert death if women and their newborns receive timely and appropriate care, so that maternal and newborn, mortality is no longer a tragedy that cannot be overcome”, he stated.
Therefore, he said, renewed impetus by their governments to place maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity reduction high on the agenda for enhanced political commitment and their quest for adequate budgetary allocation cannot be backed by strong partnership and donor commitment for substantial and consistent funding with the active participation of communities in all matters of maternal and newborn health.
DPS Susso revealed that, approximately, 60 percent of deliveries continue to take place at home on developing countries especially in rural areas as a result of long distances, poor road and communication networks, weak health and referral system, poverty and harmful socio-cultural beliefs and practices among others.
He added, this training has come at a time when it is most needed to upgrade the knowledge and skills of community health workers providing health care services in the communities for mother and newborns.
However, there is need for our countries to clearly define their cadre of community health workers so as to match the level of training required before embarking on step-down training. “This may also call for a policy review and revision that may be deemed necessary” he concluded.
It is estimated that of the four million neonatal deaths occur globally, 1.2 million of these occur in Africa; forty-one of every thousand babies born in Africa die before they are one month old. The neonatal mortality mirrors closely maternal mortality. Of the 510,000 maternal deaths that occurred globally in the year 2000, 238,000 of these, representing 47% occurred in African sub-region.
In West African sub-region, the estimate of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) varies from 110 to 2000 per 100,000 live births. The estimated average of 1100 is about 40 times higher than in developed countries.
Similarly about 9.4 million perinatal deaths occur annually worldwide. 98% of these occur in Africa with the highest rate also occurring in the West African sub-region. Most of these neonatal deaths are caused by infectious disease; pregnancy-related complications such as placenta praevia and abruptio placentae and obstructed labor underlying causes of intra-partum asphyxia, birth trauma, and premature birth.
Most of these causes could be averted if women were assisted by a skilled attendant during pregnancy, delivery, and post partum period. Recognising the high level of home deliveries and the low level of births attended by a skilled attendant (over 60% of deliveries take place at home largely In the rural areas and without a skilled attendant), there is need to bring more focus on community based interventions for improving maternal and newborn health.
The training of community health workers in the care of the newborn will increase coverage and access to essential newborn care by bringing services nearer to the populations and improve child health survival. Home based care will bridge the gaps in the continuum of care.
Addressing newborn health I catalyst for improving both maternal and child health and accelerating progress towards attainment of MDGs related to newborn health (MDG 4,5 and 6).
DPS Susso make this remarks at the closing ceremony of a nine day training of trainers on community base care of the new born, held recently at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Senegambia.
“We cannot prevent complication of pregnancy and child birth but, we can avert death if women and their newborns receive timely and appropriate care, so that maternal and newborn, mortality is no longer a tragedy that cannot be overcome”, he stated.
Therefore, he said, renewed impetus by their governments to place maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity reduction high on the agenda for enhanced political commitment and their quest for adequate budgetary allocation cannot be backed by strong partnership and donor commitment for substantial and consistent funding with the active participation of communities in all matters of maternal and newborn health.
DPS Susso revealed that, approximately, 60 percent of deliveries continue to take place at home on developing countries especially in rural areas as a result of long distances, poor road and communication networks, weak health and referral system, poverty and harmful socio-cultural beliefs and practices among others.
He added, this training has come at a time when it is most needed to upgrade the knowledge and skills of community health workers providing health care services in the communities for mother and newborns.
However, there is need for our countries to clearly define their cadre of community health workers so as to match the level of training required before embarking on step-down training. “This may also call for a policy review and revision that may be deemed necessary” he concluded.
It is estimated that of the four million neonatal deaths occur globally, 1.2 million of these occur in Africa; forty-one of every thousand babies born in Africa die before they are one month old. The neonatal mortality mirrors closely maternal mortality. Of the 510,000 maternal deaths that occurred globally in the year 2000, 238,000 of these, representing 47% occurred in African sub-region.
In West African sub-region, the estimate of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) varies from 110 to 2000 per 100,000 live births. The estimated average of 1100 is about 40 times higher than in developed countries.
Similarly about 9.4 million perinatal deaths occur annually worldwide. 98% of these occur in Africa with the highest rate also occurring in the West African sub-region. Most of these neonatal deaths are caused by infectious disease; pregnancy-related complications such as placenta praevia and abruptio placentae and obstructed labor underlying causes of intra-partum asphyxia, birth trauma, and premature birth.
Most of these causes could be averted if women were assisted by a skilled attendant during pregnancy, delivery, and post partum period. Recognising the high level of home deliveries and the low level of births attended by a skilled attendant (over 60% of deliveries take place at home largely In the rural areas and without a skilled attendant), there is need to bring more focus on community based interventions for improving maternal and newborn health.
The training of community health workers in the care of the newborn will increase coverage and access to essential newborn care by bringing services nearer to the populations and improve child health survival. Home based care will bridge the gaps in the continuum of care.
Addressing newborn health I catalyst for improving both maternal and child health and accelerating progress towards attainment of MDGs related to newborn health (MDG 4,5 and 6).
Author: by Mariatou Ngum-Saidy
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