LATEST statistics said on average ‘one out of six’ pregnant women received health care service in the country from government health clinics while the ratio is one out of every three in cities. It shows large part of the pregnant women are still out of maternal health care services leaving them vulnerable to mishaps. As per report hospitals, clinics, health complexes run by the government, NGOs and private owners provide health care only to 47 percent pregnant women despite having a capacity to give service to 72 percent women at national level. Mismanagement and poor capacity of the government health department is largely responsible for this failure. The situation must improve immediately.
Bangladesh government claimed to have achieved significant success in reducing maternal and child mortality in recent past but the low nutrition level of mother and children are still a concern for us. Social stigma and lack of awareness are the prime causes of small number women participation in the basic healthcare services, which have every potential to improve the mothers’ health during pre and post labor period and antenatal and neonatal babies.
Despite the perceived success, it is still noticeable that a significant number of deaths of women during pregnancy is taking place and many are giving birth to stillborn babies. Better care can prevent many of these unwanted deaths. Quality healthcare is a great impediment to prevent maternal and death of newborn babies in the country but this could be largely reduced if existing facilities were not underutilized. Experts said a woman should see health provider at least 8 times during her pregnancy to detect and manage potential problems. Ante-natal care also offers an opportunity for health workers to provide a range of support and information to pregnant women, including on healthy lifestyles, preventing diseases, and family planning. Newborns should receive essential care immediately after birth. They should be kept in skin-to-skin contact Known as Kangaroo Care on their mother’s chest and enabled to breastfeed.
Due to apathy of pregnant women to take health service for reasons that vary from indifference to lack of awareness the government should accelerate the midwifery service as best as possible because 58 to 63 percent delivery still take place at home. As 50 per cent pregnant women do not have access to skilled birth attendants at labour time, government should train more women as midwife to assist pregnant women during labor. The network of this service should be enlarged in rural areas while in the city areas, women at poor localities also deserve more such services.
Efforts must be significantly increased to safeguard the maternal health of all women everywhere, if the good health and well-being of every family is to be ensured.
Bangladesh government claimed to have achieved significant success in reducing maternal and child mortality in recent past but the low nutrition level of mother and children are still a concern for us. Social stigma and lack of awareness are the prime causes of small number women participation in the basic healthcare services, which have every potential to improve the mothers’ health during pre and post labor period and antenatal and neonatal babies.
Despite the perceived success, it is still noticeable that a significant number of deaths of women during pregnancy is taking place and many are giving birth to stillborn babies. Better care can prevent many of these unwanted deaths. Quality healthcare is a great impediment to prevent maternal and death of newborn babies in the country but this could be largely reduced if existing facilities were not underutilized. Experts said a woman should see health provider at least 8 times during her pregnancy to detect and manage potential problems. Ante-natal care also offers an opportunity for health workers to provide a range of support and information to pregnant women, including on healthy lifestyles, preventing diseases, and family planning. Newborns should receive essential care immediately after birth. They should be kept in skin-to-skin contact Known as Kangaroo Care on their mother’s chest and enabled to breastfeed.
Due to apathy of pregnant women to take health service for reasons that vary from indifference to lack of awareness the government should accelerate the midwifery service as best as possible because 58 to 63 percent delivery still take place at home. As 50 per cent pregnant women do not have access to skilled birth attendants at labour time, government should train more women as midwife to assist pregnant women during labor. The network of this service should be enlarged in rural areas while in the city areas, women at poor localities also deserve more such services.
Efforts must be significantly increased to safeguard the maternal health of all women everywhere, if the good health and well-being of every family is to be ensured.
