Workshop discusses maternal issues Working to save mothers [Archives:2002/50/Local News]

By Yemen Times Staff
Saving the lives of mothers in Yemen through better obstetrical care was the focus of a two-day public health workshop that concluded Nov. 28 in Sana’a.
The workshop, which had 100 participants from various governorates, aimed at creating a joint policy for obstetrical emergency services as well as finding the means to coordinate this field and specify the roles of the partners and the society.
In the conclusion, Dr. Abdu Nasser al-Manibari, the Minister of the Public Health and Population, noted the importance of applying the president’s decision that calls on free obstetric in all hospitals and health centers in Yemen.
This is the major factor in reducing the death rate of mothers who are under reproduction age, and infants.
He also stressed on the necessity of expanding and improving coordination among the various sectors related to the ministry, such as the Ministry of Public Works to implement and find health institutions that should have suitable measures and standards. Good mechanisms are also needed to run the heath institutions and its centers in the districts and remote areas, to unify health concepts that aim to reform the health sector in Yemen.
A number of submitted papers and studies indicated maternal deaths rates among mothers in Yemen. International statistics show across Yemen, a woman has a one-in-nine lifetime risk of dying from a pregnancy-related complication.
The services of obstetric emergency care is weak in Yemen because of many reasons, such as ignorance of the society, a reduction in health centers, and a lack of equipment and medicine.
In addition, there is a lack skilful health and medical specialists to render the appropriate service.The studies also concentrated on the safe motherhood objectives in Yemen through the national plan for reproductive health and family planning 2001-2005.
This aims at reducing deaths among mothers by at least 25 per cent through delivery of services, specialists to supervise obstetrics, along with new emergency care in a hospital for 500 women.
The study ensured the priority of the services of the obstetrical emergency to spread public awareness and train midwives, as well as provide ambulances and other services of obstetrical care.

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