MDG AWARD ENCOURAGING

The Himalayan Times
23 September 2010

MDG award encouraging

The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of Nepal was among the highest in the world in 1980/90’s. The 1996 Nepal Family Health Survey, which is still considered to be the most reliable estimate available so far, had revealed a MMR of 539 per 100,000 live births. It was encouraging and satisfying to read the news item “Nepal gets MDG award for reducing MMR” (Sept.21, Page 2) in terms of Nepal heading towards the right direction to achieve Goal No 5 “Improve maternal health” among the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “Reduce MMR by three quarters until 2015” is one of the target indicators of this goal. The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and its staff through out the nation deserves appreciation for their hard work.

Until 1990’s, approximately 80-90% of births used to take place at home especially in the rural areas. However, the government’s program of providing easy access to delivery services through its health institutions, increasing number of skilled birth attendants, raising awareness on reproductive health through the mass media and providing incentives to expectant women and health staffs who deliver babies at the health institutions and legalization of abortions should have been the contributing factors in reducing the MMR.

However, in order to attain MD Goal No 5 by 2015, Nepal has to reduce the current MMR to 134 per 100000 live birth, for which, MoHP should still continue to put its effort in proper and effective management of obstetric care units, ensuring regular attendance of trained health staff with adequate supply of medicine and modern equipment at the VDC level health institutions.

Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu