Nearly all maternal deaths occur in developing countries; over 80 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

A new report on maternal mortality, released by UNICEF today, highlights the risks faced during pregnancy and childbirth by women in developing countries.

Progress for Children: A Report Card on Maternal Mortality states that, according to the latest data, more than 99 per cent of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries, with some 84 per cent concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
“The tragic fact is that every year more than half a million women lose their lives as a result of complications due to pregnancy or childbirth,” said Peter Salama, UNICEF’s Chief of Health.  “The causes of maternal mortality are clear – as are the means to combat them. Yet women continue to die unnecessarily.”

Haemorrhage is the most common cause of death, particularly in Africa and Asia. A woman’s overall health – including her nutritional level and HIV status – also influences the chances of a positive outcome to her pregnancy and childbirth. Other influences include societal factors, such as poverty, inequity and general attitudes towards women and their health. Maternal mortality rates are often impacted by cultural or traditional practices that often prevent women from seeking delivery or post-partum care.

In the developing world, the risk of death from complications relating to pregnancy and childbirth over the course of a woman’s lifetime is one in 76, compared with one in 8,000 in the industrialized world. The riskiest place to give birth is Niger, where that risk is estimated to be one in seven.
Most maternal deaths are avoidable. A key to avoiding them is better health care – particularly during pregnancy, delivery and in the post-partum period. Interventions that improve maternal health include: antenatal care, provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling, skilled attendance at birth, emergency obstetric care, post-partum care and family planning in keeping with national policies. When offered across a continuum of care that integrates home, community, outreach and facility-based services, these interventions can have multiple benefits for mothers, children and the communities in which they live.

There have been some promising areas of improvement in maternal health interventions in recent years. Coverage of antenatal care throughout the developing world has increased by 15 percentage points in the past decade, with 75 percent of expectant mothers now receiving some antenatal care. At the same time, many countries have boosted coverage of skilled delivery attendance. In parts of Asia, for example, the proportion of women who have a skilled attendant present during delivery jumped from 31 to 40 percent between 1995 and 2005. Increases have also been seen in many African countries. Ensuring that skilled personnel are present at all deliveries and that these personnel have access to emergency care where necessary is the most effective means of saving the lives of mothers.

However the pace of progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goal on maternal health, which calls for a 75 per cent reduction in the maternal mortality ration between 1990 and 2015, has been too slow throughout the developing world and must now be accelerated if the goal is to be reached.

To achieve the MDG target, maternal health must be addressed as part of a continuum of care that connects essential maternal, newborn and child health services.  Indeed, levels of maternal mortality often reflect the overall performance of a country’s national health system – particularly during delivery and in the postnatal period, when mothers and newborns are most vulnerable. To fill this critical gap, services that benefit both mother and child need to be scaled up, as the health of the mother is closely linked to that of her newborn.

“Saving mothers’ lives is not only a moral imperative, but a sound investment that benefits their children, their families, their communities and their countries,” said Tessa Wardlaw, UNICEF’s Chief of Statistics and Monitoring. “Indeed, there is a clear connection between maternal health and other Millennium Development Goals, such as eradicating extreme poverty, reducing child mortality, and combating HIV and AIDS and other diseases.”

UNICEF 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Point yesterday, Dr Ndabo Manneh Camara, the Medical doctor in- charge of the GFPA reproductive Health Clinic, said Mrs. Jallow was brought to the clinic around 1pm but upon her arrival she was complaining of abdominal pain. Following a thorough examination she was referred for emergency scanning at the ASB German Clinic at Latrikunda.

She stated that after the scan it was suggested by Dr Martins of ASB that Ramatoulie should be operated on. Following this decision a caesarian section operation was carried out.

According to her, a major operation done to save the lives of both the mother and the babies.

Dr Camara said in her 22 years as a medical practitioner this is the first time she has come across such a case as conjoined twins are a medical rarity. She described the case as genetic and said the issue had occurred in the early stages of pregnancy.

She pointed out that Mrs. Ramatoulie is a mother of three children and this is her fourth pregnancy noting that presently the babies have been referred to the pediatric unit of the RVTH so as to receive the required care. Mr. Baboucarr Ngum the PRO of the RVTH confirmed to The Point that the babies are indeed under the custody of the hospital but was unable to comment any further on the case.

For her part, the mother of the babies Ramatoulie Jallow appealed to organisations and philanthropists to support them both morally and financially. Anyone wishing to help in this case can contact 4370325.

The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) will embark on a month-long celebration of world Breastfeeding week instead of a week-long event.

The theme of this years event is “Mother support; Going FOR GOLD”.

Delivering her speech to the Nation, the Vice-president and chairperson of the National Nutrition Council, Dr. Isatou Njie Saidy, said this year’s celebration is special because it coincides with the Olympics. “As countries send their best athletes to compete at the Olympic Games it is important to remember that a healthy athlete emerges from a healthy start to life,” she said.

She stated that experts have now agreed that breast milk alone can provide all that a baby normally needs for the first six months of life and no extra drinks or feeds are needed during this period. She added that it is also proven that mothers breast milk fosters optimal growth and development of the baby’s brain, immune system and general physiology and is a vital factor in preventing common illnesses, especially diarrhea and infections of the respiratory and the urinary tracts.

VP Njie Saidy pointed out that exclusive breastfeeding can also boost a mother’s immune system, saves the mother money, energy and time, delay pregnancy and help protect the mother from breast and the ovarian cancers. Many mothers find that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is simple provided the environment and the support needed are provided.

According to her unfortunately in many countries exclusive breastfeeding rates are low but in The Gambia 45% of the mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding for six months of their baby’s life.

She said the National Nutrition Agency and its partners such as IBFAN, UNICEF, WHO, DOSH and other NGO’s have made, and will continue to make, tremendous efforts in promoting optimal breastfeeding through programmes such as the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative  (BFHI), Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) and the Child Survival Programmes (CSP) noting that today there are over 20 health facilities both public and private implementing the BFHI and 293 communities implementing the BFCI

A daughter and her mother yesterday admitted guilt for conspiracy and concealment of birth.

Gibba Jallow and Yassin Suwareh of Sare Nyaga were arraigned before travelling magistrate Amadou Baldeh at Kuntaur Magistrates’ Court for conspiring to conceal birth by burying a newly born baby. The child was born to Gibba in November of 2007.

They are expected to be sentenced on 10 June 2007.

*This life is not a bed of Roses, but full of

Thorns. As you make your bed, do shall

you lye on it. Whatever you sow that’s

what you will harvest.

*Time and tide waits, for no man, make hay

whiles, the sun shines, the sun will only

shine on those who strive hard as to meet ends.

*Ambitions is a bitter tree, but it fields

delicious fruits, a patient dog will

always eat a fat bone.

*He who laughs last, always laughs best

 God will never leave those who work

hard to go forever unrewarded.

*The road of I don’t care!

always lead to the city of had I known

had I known always comes last.

Opportunity knocks at your door

but only once, and once opportunity

is last, it can never be regained.

My Mother

*My mother, who sat and watch, my infant head, and tears of sweet affection shed my mother.

*Who tought, my infant lips to pray and work in wisdom pleasant way, my mother

*When pain and sickness, made me cried who gared upon, my heavy eye and wept for fear, that I should died, my mother.

*And can I ever sieze to be affectionate and kind to her, who was so very find to me my mother.

*When my mum is feeble old and grey, my health arms shall be thy stay and I will smooth the pains away, my mother.