Status of maternal mortality in Nepal and its way out

Although different organisations produced different figures relating to reduction of maternal deaths in Nepal however I was quite aware and sure that maternal mortality in Nepal has not reduced that much as it supposed to reduce since 1990 to date, 2015 due to absence of skilled competent, compassionate, caring, communicative counsellor and courageous human resource to serve women in rural areas where majority, 87% people live in Nepal. Unless and until Nepal will not have such human resource in rural setting as envisioned by the government of Nepal in the National Skilled Birth Attendants Policy 2006's long term measures in producing professional midwives maternal and neonatal deaths won't reduce to bring sustainable development in the country promoting women's and newborn's health.

According to the Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2015 Estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division Nepal maternal deaths is 258 per 100,000 which falls among 46 highest maternal deaths nations in the world and 2nd most maternal deaths occurring nation in South Asia after Afghanistan. I can't imagine that after Afghanistan Nepal is the 2nd most maternal deaths occurring nations. I can't believe at all how much our mindset is corrupt still in this 21st we are allowing our pregnant and labouring mothers to die despite we consider ourselves that we have achieve and succeed in improving maternal and newborn healths and also got awarded by some donor agencies. What a shame!!!

Now it is high time government of Nepal and all donor agencies working in maternal and newborn health needs to think critically to invest in maternal health for sustainable development producing human resource that is critical for the society to provide quality cost-effective respective maternity care that are affordable, accessible, available and accountable learning lesson from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and else nations in the regions.

Reference

1. WHO 2015 Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2015 Estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division Nepal accessed from http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/monitoring/maternal-mortality-2015/en/