CHENNAI: With Maternal Mortality Rate declining 2.6 per cent per annum globally, one of UNO’s millennium development goals is within reach by the end by 2015, said Jacob Kumaresan, executive director, World Health Organization in his address at the inauguration of the 58th All India Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology on Thursday
“The global average maternal mortality has fallen from 380 deaths to 210 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013 made possible by the contribution of all citizens engaged in combating it,” he pointed out.
Setting the target for MMR at 70 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2030, Jacob Kumaresan called for the support and hard work of the 7,000 gynaecologists gathered at the Congress.
Prakash Trivedi, president of Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) said FOGSI has worked toward achieving lower MMR by focusing on mothers with high-risk pregnancies and reducing the risk of death with more surgeons using techniques such as endoscopy, which do not require extensive surgical procedures.
“We keep surgeons informed with the latest technological developments, that involve minimal access, through conferences and lectures lined up all through the year,” he added.