CAIRO: The ministry of health in South Sudan has called upon activists and community leaders in the country to focus on a call for maternal health awareness, which has been an ongoing crisis for those in the nation. In South Sudan, maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world, at 2,054/100,000 mothers dying in labor, according to statistics from the ministry of health. This accounts for about one out of every seven mothers. For a country with a population of over 8 million, there are less than 100 midwives working in the state. Healthcare during pregnancy, however, is free, and efforts are being made toward increasing maternal health resources. “A strong midwifery force with adequate competences could contribute greatly in reducing maternal deaths,” said the head of the United Nations Population Fund's South Sudan office, Deji Popoola. “Ensuring access to midwifery at every birth, at all levels, is vital at this moment of time,” he continued. Janet Michael, the director of nursing and midwifery at the ministry of health said that she is advocating for community groups and activists to include messages on health care in all of their activities. She has called upon this community to help teach people about when to seek medical care and to help medical facilities evaluate their programs. “Most people aren't even aware about how to identify complications. Men as heads of households aren't aware of the importance of seeking care so long as the woman is on her feet,” she said. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/ItUdC Tags: Maternal Health Section: Health, Sudan, Women
