Thursday, August 15, 2013

Over 15,000 women die of pregnancy complications

Each year in Pakistan, more than 15,000 women die due to pregnancy related complications, among which Postpartum Hemorrhage that is blood loss exceeding 500ml at vaginal delivery and 1000ml at caesarean section is accounting for first leading cause of maternal death in our country.
Pakistan National Forum on Women’s Health President Dr Shershah Syed, Dr Shoaib Magsi, Dr Naseer Baloch, Dr Akhter Hameed expressed these views on Tuesday while speaking at a press conference held at the PMA House.
Dr Shershah Syed said that primary PPH was usually occurred due to uterine atony which was failure of the uterus to contract and retract which could be prevented by taking some necessary steps.
He said, “PPH in Pakistan is accounting for about 30 percent of all maternal deaths as almost every second women in Pakistan is anemic and small blood loss during labour leads her towards death. So the management of PPH is essential to produce a visible dent in current high maternal mortality rate.
On the basis of various scientific researches approved that the incidents of PPH may be avoided or prevented up to more than 60 percent with effective usage of urotonic medicines like Misoprostol. Misoprostol is a potent uterotonic medicine that helps reduce the incidents of postpartum hemorrhage. PPH can effectively be controlled if it is administrated according to WHO protocol (single dose of 400 to 600 micrograms) is given either sublingual or orally or per rectal immediately after delivery of the baby. Its demonstrated effectiveness in the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage is further enhanced by the fact that it is an inexpensive, easily available and convenient to use at community level by any healthcare provider including doctors, midwives, lady health visitors and lady health workers.
Pakistan National Forum on Women’s Health in collaboration with Small Grant Ambassador Fund Program (SGAFP) is initiating an intervention of training of health care providers on Management of PPH with Misoprostol in 8 selected districts of Sindh (Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro and Karachi) and five selected districts of Balochistan (Gwader, Turbat, Loralai, Sibi and Quetta), he said and added that the aim behind this intervention is to reduce maternal mortality and achieving MDGs 4-5 in Pakistan.

Source:  http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/karachi/20-Mar-2013/over-15-000-women-die-of-pregnancy-complications

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