Most maternal deaths this year were preventable – Norton

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton is of the view that most of the maternal deaths in Guyana during 2016 could have been prevented.

So far this year there have been 12 recorded maternal deaths, compared to last year when 17 deaths were recorded.

“Before I became Minister I thought it was not accurate to say all maternal deaths are preventable or avoidable. More and more I am coming to face with the reality, I think it is true that we can prevent and avoid all maternal death,” Norton disclosed during a recent function at Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination ofpregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management. According to the Minister, primary health, which involves education, is a major role in saving lives of both mother and child.

“Just telling a mother what to do and how important it is for her to turn up at the clinic is important,” he said.

Alluding to the fact that Japan has a maternal death rate of zero, the Minister said this is due not only to the technological advances that country has made but to the primary healthcare which is provided to pregnant women.

Referring to the death of a mother and baby from Region One (Barima/Waini), who attempted to make the delivery without help, Norton said that too could have been prevented.

He explained that at Obadiah; a village along the Aruka River, the young mother attempted to give birth without assistance. The health worker was not contacted:

“This was at about one o’clock in the morning; she had a retention of the placenta, she was bleeding and by the time help came it was too late. The doctor at Mabaruma left home at about 2 O’clock that morning and travelled up the river only to find the patient coming down half way but it was too late; both mother and baby perished.”

In 2015, the Public Health Ministry recorded 17 cases of maternal deaths, one short of the 2014 figures. This resulted in Guyana missing its goal to reduce maternal deaths by three-quarters between 1990 and 2015.

Guyana has a maternal mortality rate of 229 deaths for every 100,000 live births and is rated 42 out of 184 countries.