Health Minister presents measures to reduce newborns and maternal deaths

Short-term up to 3 months and long-term up to 6 months measures are planned to be carried out for reduction of newborns and maternal mortality rate in Macedonia. The package of measures is prepared in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and presented at Sunday’s press conference by Health Minister Venko Filipce, who strongly believes that they will improve the overall care of mothers and their babies while in hospital.

The short-term measures will include guidelines for monitoring the risky conditions during pregnancy, clinical guidelines for the management of sepsis, problems with blood coagulation during pregnancy and during childbirth, instructions for treating at elevated maternal blood pressure combined with high levels of protein in the blood.

“These complications are the main causes of maternal deaths, and in Macedonia there are no clinical guidelines that should be applied in such life-threatening situations,” Filipce said.

The measures also involve preparation of a methodology that will detect the real causes of mortality and serious newborns and maternal complications according to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

Some of the life-saving medicines for mothers and babies are not available in maternity hospitals in accordance to the WHO and UNFPA list. We have determined that some of these medicines are not registered in Macedonia. The procedure for procurement of these medicines has been initiated and they should be available in the institutions as of tomorrow, Filipce said.

In the first three months, trainers will also be trained for the efficient care of just born babies and mobile gynecological and obstetric services for vulnerable categories of citizens will be introduced. Vaccination and screening for cervical cancer will be carried out regularly.

Training for the professional staff for effective care of the mothers and newborns as well as neonatology training of the pediatricians according to the WHO recommendations will be conducted in the next six months.

In the next six months, due to the lack of pediatricians in neonatology and pediatric departments, we will hire doctors who either end up with their specialization or have already specialized in these areas, Filipce said.

He also underlined that important segment is raising public awareness and education of the future mothers how to recognise and manage the risks during pregnancy.