Bangladesh observes Safe Motherhood Day today in the backdrop of 194 mothers still dying per 100,000 births each year as over 68 per cent of them still give birth unattended by trained personnel, according to a recent nationwide demographic health survey.
The day is being celebrated this year on the lofty theme of ‘Safe delivery is mother’s right.’
The Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey shows that only 32 per cent of the births are attended by medically trained personnel who include qualified doctors, nurses, midwifes, family welfare visitors or community skilled birth attendants.
More than 50 per cent of the births are assisted by dais or untrained traditional birth attendants.
According to officials delivery by the medically trained attendants has doubled from 16 per cent in 2004 to 32 per cent in 2011.
Achieving the millennium development goal is a big challenge for Bangladesh and the government is pledge-bound to meet the challenge, president Zillur Rahman said in a message on the day.
Safe motherhood is very important for a better life and world, the president said.
By celebrating the day, he said, the people would be more aware about mother’s health.
Coordination between all concerned would enable Bangladesh achieve the millennium development goal of reducing maternal mortality, the president said.
In a separate message, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said that her government was pledge-bound to develop health of mothers and children and reduce maternal and child mortality.
To achieve the goal, she said, her government was implementing programmes like maternal health voucher scheme, community based skilled birth attendant programme, family planning programme and the expanded programme on immunisation.
Officials said that the government’s health, population and nutrition sector development programme set the target of ensuring 50 per cent of the deliveries attended by medically trained providers by 2016.
To raise mass awareness about safe motherhood the health and family welfare ministry would take out a procession in the city, which would set out from the National Museum and end at National Press Club.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad said it would hold a discussion at 3 PM at the auditorium of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific in the city.
Courtesy of New Age
