Maternal mortality reduced

Addressing the opening of a three-day regional workshop on “Maternal Mortality and Near- Miss Audit Training” at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s, Deyalsingh said, “We have saved three lives (this year) due to simple intervention” in the management of PPH.

Based on data available, he said PPH was the number one reason for maternal mortality. As such the ministry invited the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization representative, Dr Bernadette Theodore- Gandi, to provide assistance in training local obstetricians and gynaecologists in the management of PPH. According to Theodore-Gandi, 40 local healthcare providers from the Regional Health Authorities were trained in PPH, and over 200 healthcare workers were trained in perinatal information system to assist in better clinical management of pregnancies.

Noting that an ectopic-pregnant mother who recently presented herself “in a poor state” at the San Fernando General Hospital had died subsequently, Deyalsingh said he has asked PAHO/WHO to once more assist in the management of ectopic pregnancies as well. Saying also that gestational diabetes was “a big problem” of maternal deaths locally, he said the ministry has obtained an agreement with Prof Surujpal Teelucksingh, researcher in non-communicable diseases and the Helen Bhagwansingh Diabetes Education, Research and Prevention Institute to start a national screening programme in public hospitals on gestational diabetes.

Tackling gestational diabetes, he said, “will not only result in a healthier pregnant woman but in a healthier baby that will not grow up to be a diabetic child.” Infant diabetes, he said, was also a big problem.

Just over a year ago, when he took office, Deyalsingh said he had to deal with two maternal deaths within a space of three days and address a similar meeting at the same venue a few days after.

“I am proud to say that, one year later, I can stand before this audience, as opposed to 12 months ago, a little more relaxed, because I no longer have this recurring decimal every month of a maternal death,” he said.