Reducing maternal deaths

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The need to reduce the maternal mortality rate in the hinterland barangays in Negros Oriental poses a challenge.

Statistics of the National Nutrition Council show that more than a hundred mothers die for every 100,000 live births in our country with about 30 infants per 1,000 live births die.

A national demographic health survey indicates that post partum hemorrhage is the leading cause of deaths followed by hypertensive complications, sepsis, obstructed labor and unsafe abortion.

The study also shows that maternal deaths occur due to delays in deciding to seek care for perceived obstetrical complications, identifying and reaching the appropriate facility and receiving appropriate and adequate care in the facility.

The City Health Office is calling on barangay health workers and midwives in Dumaguete City to organize the traditional “hilots” in their respective barangays who are trained in childbirth delivery. This is aimed at addressing the risk of maternal deaths from complications that usually happens in home-based labor deliveries by “hilots.”

This move contradicts the Department of Health position, pushing for  health facility-based childbirth deliveries.   However,  “hilots” may someday save more lives of women giving birth  in the most remote barangays in the province.

The local DOH should encourage “hilots” to join the basic emergency obstetric care units so that they can help assist health personnel in monitoring the status of pregnant women in their respective barangays.

We must all get behind this latest development in health care delivery, save more lives, especially of mothers.*