Workshop on child, maternal death held

SYLHET, May 30: Maternal mortality is yet to be brought down to the lowest level since 58 per cent delivery are not taking place through qualified medical people in the country.

However, a number of NGOs alongside the government initiatives are working to bring a change in the scenario, speakers said at a journalists' workshop in Sylhet city on Wednesday.

Sarker Kabir Uddin, broadcaster of Voice of America (VOA), moderated the daylong event styled 'Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Death' at a city hotel.

Dr. Ishtiaq Mannan, director, health and nutrition of Save the Children, Ubaidur Rob, country director of Population Council, Halida Hanum Akhter, chief of Party of USAID NGO Health Service Delivery Project, and Samina Chowdhury, USAID representative, also spoke at the programme. VOA, USAID and Radio Today jointly organised the event, participated by 20 journalists.

The speakers said maternal mortality rate is higher in rural areas and among poorer communities. However, 90 per cent of the maternal deaths in the country are preventable through some effective interventions.

Forty per cent of the maternal mortality has reduced during 2001-2010. Still the young adolescents face a higher risk of complications and death as a result of pregnancy than women.

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