The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has said that there is need for strengthening and expanding sexual and reproductive health services in member countries of WHO South-East Asia Region, to reduce deaths of mothers and babies, which despite substantial decline continue to be at unacceptable levels.
“Though millions of lives are now being saved due to efforts in recent years, it is unacceptable that mothers or babies continue to die from preventable causes. We must focus on neglected sexual and reproductive health issues such as post pregnancy family planning, comprehensive abortion care, and prevention and management of cervical cancer,” Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, said at the South-East Asia Region’s TAG meeting for women’s and children’s health.
Many countries in the region have made significant progress since 1990 contributing to 69 per cent decline in maternal deaths by 2015, 70 per cent reduction in under-five deaths and 60 per cent reduction in newborn mortality by 2018. However, still births need urgent attention as their reduction has been concerningly slow at 31.7% between 2000 and 2015. More needs to be done to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals for health.
Early marriage and adolescent pregnancies increase the health risk to both mothers and babies since the young mothers themselves are under-nourished and anemic. Countries must invest in health services tailored to the needs of their adolescent population, including access to sexual and reproductive health related information, the TAG advised.