Safe motherhood for safe future

Aminul Islam: Today is May 28. National Safe Motherhood Day is being observed across the country to create awareness on proper healthcare and maternity facilities to pregnant and lactating women.

Motherhood should be a time of expectation and joy for a woman, her family, and her community.  A safe motherhood is extremely needed to raise a safe future for the country as mothers are the creator of potential future generation.

For women in developing countries, however, the reality of motherhood is often grim. For these women, motherhood are often marred by unforeseen complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

Some die in the prime period of their lives and in great distress: from hemorrhage, convulsions, obstructed labor, or severe infection after delivery or unsafe abortion.

Worldwide, it is estimated that 529,000 women die yearly from complications of pregnancy and childbirth—about one woman every minute. Some 99 percent of these deaths occur in developing countries, where a woman’s lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications is 45 times higher than that of her counterparts in developed countries.

The risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications is highest in sub-Saharan Africa and in South-Central Asia, where in some countries the maternal mortality ratios are more than 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Besides, "maternal health voucher scheme" for poor and destitute mothers, community-based skilled birth attendants, family planning and EPI programme are being implemented, she said.

Maternity leave has been increased to six months resulting in significant reduction of maternal and child mortality rates, she said, adding, "We got recognition both at home and abroad for this success and also achieved the UN MDG prize and the "South-South Award" for it."

The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the country would be able to bring dynamism in maternal and child healthcare activities for reducing maternal and child maternity rates with the coordinated efforts of development partners, NGOs, private organisations side by side with the government.

The President and the Prime Minister wished every success of the programmes of the National Safe Motherhood Day-2015.


risingbd/May 27, 2015/Aminul