UNFPA to support pregnant women affected by Sidr
Saturday, 1 December 2007
FE Report
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will distribute safe delivery kits to 40 upazila health complexes to ensure safe delivery services for cyclone-affected pregnant women within the next week.
Over 6.7 million people have been affected by cyclone 'Sidr' and approximately 30,000 are pregnant women in the last trimester of their pregnancy, out of which almost 4,500 women will likely experience potentially life-threatening complications.
In close consultation with the ministry of health and family welfare, which is coordinating the relief response in the health sector, UNFPA has received funds, through the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to order 40 delivery kits, to be distributed to 40 most affected upazila health complexes, particularly in Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalakhati, Pirojpur, Bagerhat and Barisal, in charge of taking care of the cyclone-affected pregnant women.
The overall aim of UNFPA's response is to ensure the safe delivery of approximately 30,000 babies expected to be born in the affected areas within the next 2-3 months.
Under normal circumstances, 90 per cent of pregnant women in Bangladesh deliver their babies at home. With thousands of homes destroyed by the cyclone, many pregnant women will now have to deliver outside their homes, and preferably in existing health facilities.
In Bangladesh for every 1,000 births approximately 3 women die, this support will hopefully avert the deaths of 90-100 pregnant women.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will distribute safe delivery kits to 40 upazila health complexes to ensure safe delivery services for cyclone-affected pregnant women within the next week.
Over 6.7 million people have been affected by cyclone 'Sidr' and approximately 30,000 are pregnant women in the last trimester of their pregnancy, out of which almost 4,500 women will likely experience potentially life-threatening complications.
In close consultation with the ministry of health and family welfare, which is coordinating the relief response in the health sector, UNFPA has received funds, through the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to order 40 delivery kits, to be distributed to 40 most affected upazila health complexes, particularly in Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalakhati, Pirojpur, Bagerhat and Barisal, in charge of taking care of the cyclone-affected pregnant women.
The overall aim of UNFPA's response is to ensure the safe delivery of approximately 30,000 babies expected to be born in the affected areas within the next 2-3 months.
Under normal circumstances, 90 per cent of pregnant women in Bangladesh deliver their babies at home. With thousands of homes destroyed by the cyclone, many pregnant women will now have to deliver outside their homes, and preferably in existing health facilities.
In Bangladesh for every 1,000 births approximately 3 women die, this support will hopefully avert the deaths of 90-100 pregnant women.