News and Events
Sharing Ideas for Reducing Maternal Mortalities in South Asia: UNICEF South Asia Network Meeting in
Representatives from South Asian countries including SSMP and government officials from Nepal, attended a meeting organised in Delhi by UNICEF to look at ways to reduce maternal and newborn mortalities. This was an excellent opportunity for delegates to share experiences and learning from their various countries and to discuss innovative ways forward. It was noted that every country needs a focused human resource planning and management strategy in order to meet the millennium development goals for maternal and newborn health. This should include modalities for tapping human resources in the private and NGO sectors for government services, for example by providing lump sum payments to private institutions for providing emergency caesarean sections where government services are not available, as is being tried in India.
It was agreed that interim strategies are needed to get services out to peripheral areas quickly, such as training mid level doctors and nurses to provide emergency services (caesarean section, anaesthetics). Such innovative ideas may meet opposition from traditional professional associations, and an example was quoted in India where the Anaesthetists’ Association went to court to prevent nurses and paramedics being trained to administer anaesthetics. Their case was rejected, thanks to energetic opposition from the safe motherhood community. Other critical needs to be addressed include: improving training, improving security for staff in remote areas and at night, improving access to remote areas, advocating with policy makers for new policies that support staff, and more rational placement of staff with career counselling.
20/06/2008
Ashima Shrestha
SSMP
