The report, Improving Maternal and Newborn Health and Survival and Reducing Stillbirth, shows that global progress in reducing deaths of pregnant women, mothers and infants has been flat for eight years from 2015, Maternal and Newborn Health Due to lack of investment in
Since 2015, there have been approximately 290,000 maternal deaths each year, 1.9 million stillbirths that die after 28 weeks of pregnancy and a staggering 2.3 million neonatal deaths that occur in the first month of life. Death is about to happen.
Dr. Anshu Banerjee, Director, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and said, “Pregnant women and newborns are dying at unacceptably high rates around the world, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to provide them with the health care they need. has created more shocks to do.” Aging in the World Health Organization (WHO).
“If we want to see different results, we must do things differently,” she said. More and better investment in primary health care is needed so that every woman and child, wherever they live, has access to health and survival. Best chance to live.”
The COVID pandemic, rising poverty and worsening humanitarian crises have increased the pressure on health systems.
Only one in 10 countries (more than 100 surveyed) are reported to have sufficient funds to implement their current plans.
Furthermore, according to the latest WHO survey on the impact of the pandemic on essential health services, nearly a quarter of countries still report ongoing disruptions to critical pregnancy and postpartum care and services for sick children.
“Since the Covid-19 pandemic, providing low-cost and quality and accessible healthcare to infants, children and women who were already exposed to threats to their well-being, especially those living in fragile countries and emergencies are facing huge consequences for their efforts to do so, said UNICEF Director of Health Steven Lauvier.
Lack of funds and low investment in primary healthcare can destroy the chances of survival. For example, while prematurity is now the leading cause of death for all under-fives globally, less than a third of countries have enough neonatal intensive care units to treat small and ill babies.
To increase survival rates, women and infants must have access to quality, affordable health care, as well as family planning services, before, during, and after childbirth.
The report, launched at a global conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, suggests there is a need for more skilled and motivated health workers, particularly midwives, with essential medicines and supplies, safe water and reliable electricity.