| Although there are yet some controversies and debates as it relates to the specific figures, there is no denying that Guyana has been able to achieve a downward trend in both maternal and infant mortality.This notion was amplified yesterday by Dr. Sulieman Braimoh, Representative of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) of Guyana and Suriname, during a stakeholders’ meeting aimed at reinforcing the importance of maternal and child health.The meeting, which was held at the Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, was held under the theme ‘A promise renewed for safe motherhood’.The meeting of stakeholders in progress yesterday.The strategic move comes even as earnest strides are being made by the local health sector to realise the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Four and Five which speaks directly to reducing maternal and child mortality.According to Dr. Braimoh, Guyana’s accomplishments have been so steady that the government and its partners are of the firm belief that Guyana will be among the other countries to achieve the MDGs by 2015.However, he noted that there are some emerging trends and issues that must be addressed within the context of renewing the promise with regards to safe motherhood.But according to Dr. Braimoh, the main trend that must be brought to the fore has to do with the fact that global figures or national level figures often tend to mask disparities within some countries.“So if we concentrate on just the global and aggregate figures we are unlikely, from a human rights perspective, to be able to achieve the MDGs though we might achieve it at the aggregate level,” Dr. Braimoh observed.He noted that there is need to redouble efforts to not only understand what is happening between the smaller operations in the country but also to understand how the variants of determining child and maternal mortality operate there as well.This is needful, the UNICEF Representative said, in order to achieve the MDGs not merely at the aggregate level but also with a considerable, and strengthened focus on equity, something to which the UN family has been directing much attention.According to Dr. Braimoh since equity makes sense from the human rights perspective as well as from the economic, political and social perspectives, it is imperative that “if we need to move forward significantly in all of these areas equity is the area for focus.”Also speaking yesterday was the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Family and Community Advisor, Dr Rosalinda Hernandez, who noted that maternal and child health mortality MDGs are priority topics of the health agenda across the world.She noted that every Government, organisation, or donor should follow the progress report of the MDGs since there are less than 1,000 days from the committed 2015 deadline. “World leaders are committed to reducing child mortality…In 2002 the United Nations General Assembly passed a landmark resolution to build a world fit for children. This sustained commitment has led to a decrease in child mortality that is unprecedented in human history,” added Dr. Hernandez.She disclosed that in the past two decades the number of under-five deaths has fallen dramatically from more than 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2010, a development which, she said, speaks to commitment.Outlining an eight-point list of why sexual and reproductive health is important to achieve the MDGs was Dr. Mario Aguilar, who holds the position of Technical Advisor on Reproductive Health of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).And it was the Ministry of Health’s Director of Maternal and Child Health, Dr. Janice Woolford,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, who detailed Guyana’s progress towards achieving the 2015 time-framed MDGs.But despite the fact that there is evident progress in addressing maternal and child mortality in the quest to attaining the goals, Permanent Secretary attached to the Health Ministry, Mr. Leslie Cadogan, yesterday lamented reports that there was yet another maternal death reported at a privately operated hospital.However, he assured that prioritisation to addressing such situations will remain the focus of the Ministry of Health and by extension the Government.He noted that while there are challenges and gaps in achieving the MDG 5, deliberate moves were engaged to solicit stakeholders support to plot the way forward.“Our main task today is to provide the basis for partnership and consultation with organisations in order for us as a country to reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve the quality of health care offered to women and children in Guyana.” |
