WHO for coordinated action to save mothers, children

The World Health Organisation (WHO), Unicef and UNFPA have urged the South-East Asian countries to ensure survival and improved quality of life for each woman, newborn and child. About 76,000 mothers died as a result of pregnancy and childbirth in 2012 in WHO South-East Asia Region while the Region lost an estimated 1.8 million children under the age of five years, and there were about one million newborn deaths in 2012, says a joint statement in Kathmandu on Tuesday. “In an ideal world not even a single mother, newborn or a child would die due to a preventable cause,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia. “There are several challenges that have affected progress in maternal and child health. Low public investments in health, high out-of-pocket expenses, inadequate number and distribution of health workers with the necessary skills-mix are some of them, according to UNB.