Health’s Information chief Ms Rumanusina Maua

By Nanai T. Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

Samoa had achieved the United Nations Millennium Development Goal on infant mortality rate in 2011.

But it is not stopping the Ministry of Health from saving more lives.

The MDG for infant mortality was targeted to be reduced from 42 deaths per 1000 in 1990 to 28 by 2015.

But the latest figures from Health reveals that only 20 children (from a 1000) in that age bracket died in 2011.

And while the figures are positive, the Ministry of Health wants to best the 2011 data this year.

Says Health information chief Ms Rumanusina Maua;

“We want to do better. Saving lives is our business.�?

She said that reducing any death rate is a huge challenge. But the Ministry is determined.

According to reports, the major causes of infant mortality are premature birth, low birth weight, smoking pregnant moms, teen pregnancy and inadequate prenatal care.

And the Ministry has since launched an action plan to tackle these problems.

The plan includes improving skills for all health workers, raising public and family awareness and continued school screening programs for rheumatic fever and other life-threatening diseases.

Implemented so far is 2012 Child Health Policy.

A Safe Motherhood Information Booklet for Pregnant Mothers has been distributed.

A Neonatal Nursing Training program with the Nurses College of New Zealand is in operation.

And coverage for the Expanded Programme of Immunization to protect children from diseases such as  mumps, measles and rubella has greatly improved.

Latest figures show that 85% of children from new borns to five-year-olds received immunization injections in 2012.

MATERNAL MORTALITY
Samoa has also achieved the MDG for Maternal Mortality.

Samoa’s maternal mortality was targeted to be reduced to a minimum of 19 deaths a year by 2015. We achieved this in 2009.

In Samoa’s case, 74 maternal deaths were recorded in 1990 but by 2009, there was only one fatality.

But the number of pregnant women dying while giving birth increased to seven in 2010.

By 2011, five more pregnant mothers had died.

And the latest figure is “still very high,�? said ACEO Maua.

She said that pregnant mothers are partly to blame.

Said the Ms Maua;

“Pregnant mothers are neglecting their prenatal checkups. They are required to have checks from their first semester to avoid any complications and make sure that they and their babies are healthy.�?

She added that it is also standard procedure for pregnant mothers to see a doctor within the first 20 weeks of their pregnancies.

Staffing shortage has been addressed with a Midwives Credential Program in Obstetric implemented especially for medical personal working in the rural areas.

Overall, while Samoa’s infant and maternal mortality rates are very low, Health authorities are urging would-be-mothers to also play their role by having their regular medical checkups.

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