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Fifty-seven years have elapsed since men and women of goodwill and foresight laid the foundation of the World Health Organization (WHO). The 7th of April each year is celebrated as World Health Day (WHD), because it marks the date in 1948 when a number of countries had ratified their signatures to bring the constitution of the WHO into force.
WHO has announced “Healthy Mothers and Children” as the theme for the WHD 2005. This also is the subject of the World Health Report 2005 which will be launched on this day. The slogan for WHD is “Make Every Mother and Child Count”.
The well-being of societies is directly linked to the health and survival of mothers and children. If mothers survive and thrive, so do their children. When both mothers and children survive and thrive, the societies in which they live prosper.
Too many mothers and children in the world are dying or suffering from the effects of ill-health, poor nutrition and inadequate health care. Each year more than half a million mothers die in childbirth. At the same time almost 10.6 million children under the age of 5 years die from a hand-full of preventable and treatable conditions. Nearly all these deaths occur in low and middle income countries and mainly amongst the poorest of the poor. Many of these deaths could be prevented using existing knowledge and affordable tools.
Women’s Health
Women’s Health and well-being are of utmost importance both for women themselves and for the next generation. Pregnancy and childbirth are a natural process but not one that is free from risk. In many parts of the world women still suffer and die because they do not have access to essential health services.
The cause of maternal deaths in developing countries today is the same obtained in developed countries 50 years ago, haemorrhage, post delivery infections and septic abortions are the immediate cause of most deaths related to pregnancy. A large scale immunization programme has been instituted during the last few years in India to immunize each mother so that she and her baby will be protected.
Literacy especially of women, seems to be a significant factor, in making a vast difference in the mortality and morbidity rates in various Indian States. The highest crude death and infant mortality rates coincide with a very low female literacy rate.
Child Birth
Without birth there can be no life. Birth is a natural process and for most of human history it has been allowed to take place without too much interference. However, as mankind’s medical knowledge has increased, so it seems, has the need to interfere with the natural process of birth.
In the past, many women and their babies died in childbirth. As in the animal world, human birth is also ruled by the law of ‘Survival of the fittest”. Eventually research and the development of drugs and operative techniques, gave us more insight into the forces of work when birth takes place. So, as we began to understand the importance of hygiene, prenatal care and risk assessment for increasing the rate of survival, the rate of our interventions also increased. Childbirth came to be seen no longer as a natural process that could take care of itself but as the procedure with minimal risk to both mother and the child.
Safe Motherhood
Safe motherhood, however, is not ensured only by good health services. Poverty, lack of education, and women’s lack of power to make decisions about their own health also contributed to maternal mortality. Above all, achieving safe motherhood is about a more equitable distribution of resources so that nothing and nobody stands in the way of women’s access to essential services. International conference on Population and Development 1994, have underlined the fundamental right of all women to remain unharmed through childbirth. The international convention on the “Right of the Child” takes the same stand. Concerted action is needed to make these affirmations a reality for millions of women around the world who give birth without the essential services.
Child Health
Care for the child’s health starts even before conception. Immunization protects children against infectious diseases such as measles, tetanus, diptheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, and tuberculosis. Personal hygiene prevents diseases, particularly diarrhoea. Breast feeding, followed by correct weaning and well-balanced nutrition, protects against malnutrition and strengthens resistance to infection. Day care activities, where play and exercise stimulate both body and mind contribute to the harmonious development of the child.
Every year more than 8 million infants die before their first birthday. More than half survive less than a month – while they are still classed as newborn. Almost all the 5.1 million deaths in the neonatal period take place in developing countries. Nearly two third of them occur within a few days of birth.
The causes of neonatal deaths are not always easy to asses but WHO estimates that 85 per cent of them are due to infections, birth asphyxia, birth injury problems linked with pre-term birth. Similarly nearly half of all still born babies die as a result of complications during labour and delivery. With appropriate care these deaths could be avoided.
There is no drug to solve malnutrition, still less a vaccine to prevent it. The real, permanent solution entail improving overall living conditions of the mother & child, making Mother’s milk as the most important source of nutrients at least during the first months of an infant’s life and by improving the nutrition and diet content of this vulnerable group.
Survival of Mothers and Children
WHD 2005 is a unique opportunity to raise awareness of this needless tragedy, and of the efforts needed by all to ensure life and good health among these precious members of society. It is also an occasion to stimulate action; to compel national governments, international donors, NGOs, the private sector, the media, community based groups, and individuals alike to learn about plan for undertaking sustainable activities that aim to improve the survival, health and well-being of mothers and children.(PIB Features)
*Environment Scientist and Technical Expert on Water Quality, Nagpur
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