Universal access to emergency obstetric and newborn care : Panel Discussion

Abstract

1. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 aim to reduce child mortality by two thirds and maternal mortality by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. MDG 5 is the target towards which the least progress has been made so far. To meet MDG 5 an annual average maternal mortality reduction rate of 5.5% is required. In sub-Saharan Africa, the annual average reduction was 0.1% between 1990 and 2005. In the African Region, over 270 000 women and 1.12 million newborns die annually from preventable causes during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.1 2. Forty-two Member States have adopted the Road Map for Accelerating the Attainment of the MDGs related to Maternal and Newborn Health in Africa. However, in most countries, implementation of the Road Map remains very slow. Skilled birth attendance in sub-Saharan Africa remains low at 46% and only 12% of pregnant women requiring Emergency Obstetric Care actually receive it.2 Pregnant women still face geographical, sociocultural and financial barriers to accessing quality health care. 3. The panel discussion will be a forum to discuss how best to ensure universal access to quality Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) services in the overall framework for implementation of the Ouagadougou Declaration on Primary Health Care and Health Systems.