Africa: The nightmare of pregnancy
Published on Fri, 2011-10-07 08:24
The brain drain, the lack of appropriate facilities, equipment and drugs and the inequity in the access to the services between urban and rural populations hinder Africa from reaching the health-related MDGs, warned the Third World Network-Africa (TWN-A, organization based in Accra that integrates Social Watch). Governments should focus “as a matter of urgency” on the maternal and child healthcare services as first steps. “From human resource-doctors, nurses, paramedics who are either in short supply or have migrated to seek greener pasture in the Western world, to infrastructure in the form of medical facilities and medical supply which do not match the requirements of the population there is great inadequacy,” says in its editorial African Agenda, bi-monthly magazine published by TWN-A. The report on the State of the World's Midwifery 2011, published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), states that one out of 31 pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa die from causes related with their condition or giving birth, against one out of 43,000 in the industrialized world. “Pregnancy, which should be a joyous occasion, tends out to become a nightmarish experience,” regrets African Agenda. The report adds that 358,000 women die each year while pregnant or giving birth, two million newborns die within the first 24 hours of life and there are 2.6 million stillbirths, essentially because of scant health care where it is available. Most of these deaths would be preventable if African governments invest in human resources and infrastructure, according to African Agenda. TWN-A publication notes some recent improvements in the maternal mortality ratio of countries as Gambia and Malawi, but a dire situation persists in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Niger and Mali, among others. A 2010 report on Sierra Leone showed that 12 women died every month in a hospital in Freetown, the capital, whilst giving birth. “One could imagine the situation in the rural areas,” evaluates African Agenda Of the 33 million HIV-infected people globally, 22 million live in sub-Saharan Africa (67%). Southern Africa is the most affected sub-region, with prevalence ranging between 2.8% and 39%, reported last month in Luanda the World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo. Efforts have resulted in approximately 25% reduction in the number of new HIV cases in 22 African countries, Sambo said. "By the end of 2009, more than 3.9 million people living with HIV in the African region were receiving antiretroviral treatment, representing a coverage of nearly 37% in contrast to only 800 000 people on treatment in 2005," he added. It is projected that, globally, deaths from non communicable diseases will rise by a further 17% over the next 10 years, but the greatest increase (27%) is expected to be seen in the African region, warned UN experts to the General Assembly last month. The WHO Regional Office for Africa called earlier this year for urgent action to address major non communicable diseases and priority conditions which represent “a significant challenge” to people in the African region: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, diseases of blood disorder (in particular sickle cell disease), mental health, violence and injuries. One out of eight human beings live in the African Region established by the WHO, but its 46 countries concentrate 71.1% of the communicable diseases of the world, according to the Atlas of Health Statistics of the African Region 2011. The prevalence of HIV among people aged 15-49 was 4.9% in 2007, compared to 0.8% at a global level. The sub-continent is very far from reaching the health-related MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) by 2015. In 2009, 22% of the children under 5 years old were underweight, and the target is 13%. The mortality rate descended to 118 children under 8 years old per 1.000 live births, more than doubling the target of 55 per 1.000. Only 34% of the population enjoyed improved sanitation in 2008, and the target is 65%. UNFPA’s study indicates that up to 38 of 58 surveyed countries would fail to achieve the MDG target of 95 per cent coverage of births by skilled attendants by 2015, unless more than 100,000 additional midwives receive training and are deployed and retained. The 46 governments of the African region invested 9.6% of its expenditures on the health sector in 2007, compared with 15.4% in the rest of the world. “Meeting the MDG targets on health may be a great challenge to most governments in Africa but they have no choice if they have to not only ensure quality life for their citizens but also a quality workforce that contributes significantly to economic development,” warned African Agenda in its editorial. TWN-A’s publication noted that the “economic downturn of the 1980s and 90s” resulted “in less public expenditure” in the health sector, “leading to not only rundown infrastructure but also the exodus of health personnel who could not cope with the low remuneration and deteriorating work environment.” “As widely recognized, this exodus has rather contributed to improve the human resources of the developed countries,” it added. “To reverse the alarming state of Africa's health sector, especially maternal and child healthcare requires a great effort. In the pursuit of this, as a matter of urgency, there is the need to better the health of pregnant women.” “The general disproportionate gap in the ratio of health and social infrastructure between the rural and urban areas in Africa must be bridged if the high maternal and new-born mortality and morbidity are to be stemmed. Invariably, good roads, good schools, good health facilities, quality, adequate and efficient health personnel all contribute to good health especially for pregnant women. Additionally, the increase in the number of specialists like gynecologists, pediatricians, and midwives would improve the situation. Thus more training institutions, good remuneration and more facilities should be the priority of African governments,” said African Agenda. “African governments must take the necessary bold steps to invest in the midwifery and child health areas of our health sector to ensure the survival of Africans,” concluded the publication. This information is based on data from the following sources: |
