Brazzaville, 2 September 2004 -- Over the next decade, maternal deaths and disabilities in the African region could reach 2.5 million and 49 million, respectively, if urgent action is not taken to improve maternal health, says a report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

These maternal deaths and disabilities could result in 7.5 million child deaths and an economic loss of US$45 million to the region over the next ten years, says the report, to be presented by the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Samba, to the fifty-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa taking place from 30 August to 3 September in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

"Most maternal and newborn deaths are avoidable if pregnant women have timely access to skilled care when complications arise", Dr Samba says, adding that the losses caused by such avoidable deaths could be stemmed by the implementation of proven, cost-effective and feasible interventions.

Such interventions include improved education and care, the provision of better health infrastructure, greater empowerment of women, greater stakeholder involvement and coordination of efforts in the context of health sector reforms.

Dr Samba states that in order to meet challenges posed by the high maternal death rate in the region, the WHO Regional Office for Africa, in 2003, collaborated with relevant partners to develop a roadmap and common strategy for accelerating and monitoring the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to maternal and newborn health.

"The roadmap provides a framework for building strategic partnership for increased investment in maternal and newborn health at institutional and programme levels, focusing particularly on the health service and community levels", Dr Samba explains in the report. Partners will pay special attention to the availability of emergency obstetric and neonatal care as well as skilled attendance at all levels, he says.

The main objective of the roadmap is to accelerate the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality and the attainment of the MDGs in Africa. Specific objectives are to provide skilled attendance during childbirth and the postnatal period at all levels of the health care delivery system, and strengthen the capacity of individuals, families and communities to improve maternal and newborn health.

Dr Samba suggested some maternal health care strategies to be used for the implementation of the roadmap. These include improving the provision of maternal health care and family planning services, strengthening referral systems and district health planning, increasing commitment and resources, fostering partnerships, promoting a house-to-hospital continuum of care and empowering communities.

He also pledges WHO support to countries for the planning, monitoring and evaluation of national roadmaps to accelerate the attainment of the MDGs related to maternal and newborn health.

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