Many people consider the day their child was born the happiest day in their life. In the world's wealthier countries, that is. In poorer countries, the day a child is born is all too often the day its mother dies. The lifetime risk of dying in pregnancy and childbirth in Africa is 1 in 22, while it is 1 in 120 in Asia and 1 in 7,300 in developed countries.
Today, 5th May, is International Day of the Midwife and one of the most appropriate days to highlight that over 340,000 women and over 5 million infants around the world die each year as a result of preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications.
The world needs midwives now more than ever.
The World Health Organisation, UN agencies and other global partners have identified that midwives are the key to achieving reductions in maternal and newborn deaths and disabilities globally.
A global shortage of midwives is reducing the chances of countries hitting millennium development goal 5 (MDG 5) to reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality rate.
What is the MDG 5?
Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG 5) aims to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio by 2015 and to universalise the access to sexual and reproductive health.
- Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio.
- Achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health.
- Every year, 536,000 women and girls die as a result of complications during pregnancy, childbirth or the six weeks following delivery.
- 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries, half of them in sub-Saharan Africa and one third in South Asia.
- A further nine million women suffer complications that can result in life long pain, disability and socio-economic exclusion.
- Around 215 millions couples per year do not have access to modern contraception methods.
http://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/index.php?id=101
The direct causes of maternal deaths are haemorrhage, infection, obstructed labour, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, and complications of unsafe abortion. A majority of these deaths and disabilities are preventable, being mainly due to insufficient care during pregnancy and delivery. Around 20 million women have unsafe abortions each year, and 3 million of the estimated 8.5 million who need care for subsequent health complications do not receive it. About 15 % of pregnancies and childbirths need emergency obstetric care because of complications that are difficult to predict.
Investing in maternal and sexual health can have a great impact on the other Development Goals. Greater use of condoms for contraception would reduce the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Reducing unplanned births and family size would result in savings on public-sector spending for health, water, sanitation and social services and reduce pressure on scarce natural resources, making social and economic development goals easier to achieve. Amongst other benefits, reducing unplanned pregnancies, particularly among adolescents, would improve educational and employment opportunities for women, which would in turn contribute to improving the status of women, increasing family savings, reducing poverty and spurring economic growth.
The direct causes of maternal deaths are haemorrhage, infection, obstructed labour, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, and complications of unsafe abortion. A majority of these deaths and disabilities are preventable, being mainly due to insufficient care during pregnancy and delivery. Around 20 million women have unsafe abortions each year, and 3 million of the estimated 8.5 million who need care for subsequent health complications do not receive it. About 15 % of pregnancies and childbirths need emergency obstetric care because of complications that are difficult to predict.
Investing in maternal and sexual health can have a great impact on the other Development Goals. Greater use of condoms for contraception would reduce the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Reducing unplanned births and family size would result in savings on public-sector spending for health, water, sanitation and social services and reduce pressure on scarce natural resources, making social and economic development goals easier to achieve. Amongst other benefits, reducing unplanned pregnancies, particularly among adolescents, would improve educational and employment opportunities for women, which would in turn contribute to improving the status of women, increasing family savings, reducing poverty and spurring economic growth.
The real question is – Can the MDG 5 be achieved by 2015?
A global shortage of midwives means many women around the world are giving birth without a trained professional, increasing the risk to women's health and reducing the chances of countries hitting millennium development goal 5 to cut maternal mortality rates.
Today is the International Day Of The Midwife, and is used to bring awareness of the importance of midwives' work, and recognise the care they provide to child bearing families.
Happy healthy babies are the best reason of all to celebrate International Day of the Midwife today.
A global shortage of midwives means many women around the world are giving birth without a trained professional, increasing the risk to women's health and reducing the chances of countries hitting millennium development goal 5 to cut maternal mortality rates.
Today is the International Day Of The Midwife, and is used to bring awareness of the importance of midwives' work, and recognise the care they provide to child bearing families.
Happy healthy babies are the best reason of all to celebrate International Day of the Midwife today.
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