– Moruca district witnesses zero maternal deaths in two years

THE Ministry of Health, with the objective of completely eradicating maternal deaths in different regions across the country, established the first Maternal and Child Health District Office for the Moruca district in Region One on Wednesday.
The newly constructed office, situated in Region One adjacent to the Kumaka District Hospital, will contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality rates in the Moruca sub-region.

During the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, while delivering feature remarks, stated that this region has gone from a place that recorded a high number of maternal deaths to now having zero over the last two years.

Recognising this as a significant achievement, he stated that the ministry successfully attained this goal by analysing the factors leading to maternal deaths and implementing corresponding interventions.

“Among the things we were looking at if people stay in the villages and they have to travel when they get into labour to come to the facility that can create a problem because very often in the past people might give birth along the way and it might not be in the best environment,” he said.

Furthermore, he highlighted the ministry’s achievement of developing waiting homes for expectant mothers in close proximity to all hospitals.
According to him, this will facilitate mothers’ access to the hospital, ensuring safer births and reducing complications.

However, while he noted that significant strides have been made in reducing maternal deaths, the government is working to achieve a zero rate, not just on the coastland but in the interior regions of the country.

“We want the services to be equal across the country and that’s what we’re working towards,” Minister Anthony said.
Furthermore, during his address at the commissioning ceremony, Dr. Steven Chefoon, the Regional Health Officer, expressed the region’s commitment to achieving zero maternal deaths resulting from preventable causes, as mandated.

He further stated that upon assuming the position of Regional Health Officer, the Moruca sub-region was plagued by maternal fatalities, reaching the highest rate in the country at one point.

According to him, the regional health authorities have made significant efforts to establish a robust healthcare system. Additionally, they have deployed community health workers in remote communities and provided further training to 10 traditional birth attendants in those regions.

“In order to govern all of this we have to have the station, the hub of maternal and child health, this centre here… this is the sub-regional office and it’s to service this entire sub-region that houses 18 facilities,” he said.

Dr. Chefoon further asserted that the sub-region’s accomplishment of zero maternal deaths in the last two years will serve as a benchmark for eradicating maternal mortalities.

The facility, inaugurated by the Health minister on Wednesday, is currently staffed by individuals residing in the Moruca sub-region and has already been equipped to fulfill its purpose.

In July 2023, President Dr. Irfaan Ali made an official announcement regarding the significant decrease in child and maternal mortality rates in Guyana.

The Head of State stated that in 2023, the national rate of maternal mortality was approximately 96 per 10,000 deliveries, compared to 170 per 10,000 deliveries in 2017.