Group aims to reduce maternal, infant deaths

Governor Hilario Davide III

has issued an executive order creating a provincial maternal and neonatal mortality

review team.

The team is tasked to help address the high maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the province.

It is composed of provincial health officer as team leader, and representatives from the Department of Health-7, municipal health units, and Cebu Provincial Hospitals (CPH) as team members.

The governor said the province has an average of 136 MMR, which is "way above" the national target of 52 MMR per 100,000 live births, over the last three years.

"There is a need to create a maternal and neonatal death review team, which shall be the monitoring team of the province, to conduct maternal and neonatal death surveillance and response to the healthcare challenges in the province specifically in maternal deaths," read the EO which was noted by the Provincial Board during its recent out-of-town session.

Doctor Rene Catan, PHO chief, said the province's MMR ratio is at 186 over a hundred thousand, as of September last year.

This ratio, he said, means 186 deaths among 100,000 mothers during pregnancy.

Aside from monitoring and reducing the mortality rate, the team is mandated to make an MMR database, which needs to be updated quarterly.

Also, it is directed to develop and draft key reforms, innovations, programs, and ordinances that promote maternal and child health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day all over the world.

Between 2016 and 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, the target is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.

WHO said 99 percent of maternal deaths occur in developing countries like the Philippines.

Most

of

the complications develop during pregnancy, most of which account for nearly 75 percent of all maternal deaths, include severe bleeding (mostly bleeding after childbirth), infections (usually after childbirth), high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia and eclampsia), complications from delivery, and unsafe abortion.

WHO highlighted that skilled care before, during and after childbirth can save the lives of women and newborn babies. —

Lorraine Mitzi A.Ambrad/KBQ