Sixty newborns and six mothers die every day in the country for want of maternal and neonatal health services, states a survey report.
Every year, around 2,500 mothers and 22,000 newborns die in the country for want of maternal and neonatal health services, the National Demographic Health Survey (DHS) states.
In memory of the mothers, who lost their lives delivering babies, the national Safe Motherhood Day was celebrated today.
According to the DHS, 281 out of 100,000 mothers die every year. hirty-three out of 1,000 newborns also meet the same fate each year. As per the Millennium Development Goal, the county has to decrease the maternal mortality rate to 134 and neonatal (within a month of delivery) death rate to 15 by 2015.
Stakeholders said at a programme that awareness should be raised on safe motherhood and the maternal health services launched at the grassroots level. Dr Bishnu Prasad Pandit, acting secretary, Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), called on people from all walks of live to help bring down maternal and neonatal mortality.
The government has taken different measures to make maternal health services accessible to the needy.
The National Safe Motherhood Policy has been formulated and special safe motherhood programmes launched to decrease maternal mortality and morbidity.
National and international agencies have also launched programmes towards this end.
GP Ojha, director-general of the Department of Health Services, said, “Though we have political commitment, laws and enough resources, many mothers based in rural areas are still deprived of health services. This is due to the lack of awareness.”
The programme was organised by the MoHP, Nepal Family Health Programme and the USAID. -
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