The report reveals major gaps in midwifery services in 73 high-burden countries including Pakistan and calls for investment that can save millions of lives of women and newborns. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
By strengthening midwifery services corresponding to the population explosion in the country, Pakistan can potentially save the lives of millions of mothers.
This was revealed by a report titled “A Universal Pathway – A Woman’s Right to Health,” launched by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organisation and the International Confederation of Midwives here on Monday.
The report reveals major gaps in midwifery services in 73 high-burden countries including Pakistan and calls for investment that can save millions of lives of women and newborns.
UN Resident Coordinator Timo Pakkala said it is a tragedy that Pakistan has a very high maternal mortality ratio of 276 deaths per 100,000 live births.
“Pakistan is not on track to meet its commitment on the Millennium Development Goal next year,” he said.
These deaths result from social and political failure, not from our lack of medical knowledge,” he added.
The report paints a bleak picture of both, sexual and reproductive health and maternal and child healthcare services stating that lack of access to skilled birth attendants (SBA) during complications of pregnancies and obstetric emergencies is a leading cause of maternal death.
“By 2030, the population is projected to increase by 29 per cent to 231.7 million. To achieve universal access to sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn care, midwifery services by 2013 must respond to 6.8 million pregnancies per annum — 56 per cent of these in rural settings,” says the report.
It is feared that if the number of SBAs is not be doubled by 2030, it will be a disaster for Pakistan, says the report.
At present, there is an acute shortage of community midwives as there are only 7,000 serving at the community level.
Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Secretary Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry said that meagre allocations to population welfare department and dearth of data are serious challenges.
Health experts at the ceremony expressed concern over the lack of government investment in strengthening and acknowledging the important role of midwifery services.
They were of the view that government mostly focuses on improving urban healthcare facilities and ignore primary healthcare services, which also include midwifery services.
UNFPA representative Ann Keeling said, “Pakistan still has a high maternal mortality rate. Midwives are essential frontline health workers who save the lives of both mothers and their infants”.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2014.
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