Improving MNH indicators: Viable transport termed a life saver for mothers, newborns

Study explores issues of availability, access and use of transport during emergencies.

Health experts and panellists at a discussion here on Tuesday underscored the importance of availability of viable transport in quick service delivery and proposed a number of remedial measures to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.

The discussion was organised by Contech International, in Islamabad on Tuesday, said a press release.

A large number of health professionals and experts from national and international organizations participated in the discussion and stressed the need for implementing the remedial steps to address factors causing in large number of deaths of mothers and newborns.

Panellists were briefed about a study “Remove Transport Barriers to Access MNH Services 2012-13” done by Dr Naeemuddin Mian with the funding of Mother and Newborn Health - Research and Advocacy Fund (RAF).

The doctor said transportation plays a key role in having access to timely health services in general and its viable availability has actually been linked with lower maternal and neonatal deaths.



Dr Naeem said his research also explored the issues of availability, access and use of transport during emergencies and the behaviours like perceptions, risks and decision making related to referral transport during obstetric emergencies.

The interventions having potential for scalability to improve MNH outcomes, particularly in poor, rural and marginalized areas were also assessed during the period of research.

During the last two decades, maternal mortality ratio has dropped from 490 to 260 per 100,000 live births, showing a decline of 48 per cent.

Similarly, infant and newborn mortality indicators revealed comparable situation and out of every 1,000 live births, 55 newborns were doomed to face the same fate and did not live past the first month of their lives, the study says.

Dr Nabila Ali said that despite its significance to MNH outcomes, the use of transport in accessing routine and emergency MNH services has not been amply studied in the country that is required for highlighting the ways of specifically overcoming the transport barriers, especially for the poor and marginalised communities.

While emphasising the need for community-based services, which are more popular in the marginalized communities, Dr Sumaiya from Unicef said focus should also be laid on initiating and improving more such services.

Wrapping the debate, the panelists proposed remedial action and suggestions to minimize the transport barrier, deterring the use of services. Remedial actions like addressing the cost, availability and terrain issues should be given immediate attention through scalability of existing transport services across the country.

Voucher schemes will also have healthy impact in the poor segments. Healthy inter-sectoral linkages between health and transport should be developed to facilitate the referral during emergencies. By applying these strategies, the maternal and neonatal health indicators can be improved, building blocks for a healthy and prosperous nation.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2013.