Malaysian mothers get a better deal during childbirth

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has one of the lowest maternal death rates in the developing world. And it was one of quickest to bring down the number of deaths after childbirth.
Ministry of Health statistics show the maternal mortality rate (MMR) was brought down from 530 per 100,000 pregnant women in 1955, to the current 30:100,000.
Malaysia’s record of lowering MMR in a short period will be among the topics for discussion at the World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Figo 2006), the world’s largest convention of gynaecologists and obstetricians.
The congress opens today at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and will end on Nov 10.
As a preface to the summit, the ministry sponsored 42 young obstetricians on a tour of local healthcare facilities.
Their visits included urban hospitals with advanced systems to rural hospitals with more basic facilities.
"These doctors are all below the age of 40, and were carefully selected so they will have the drive and time to implement what they have learnt here back home," said Figo organising committee vice-chairman Datuk Dr Alex Mathews.
"We have shown them our rural areas and hospitals and they have listened to what our experts have to say on contributing factors to low MMR and healthcare management," said Dr Mathews.
He said commitment from the government, teamwork between healthcare professionals, proper allocation of funds and professional training were among the advantages that helped the country maintain its record.
Most of the participants of the tour say that unlike Malaysia, people in their countries have poor access to healthcare and their governments lack the political will to provide the best facilities.
Dr Emem Bassey, from Nigeria said: "I find that 95 per cent of women in Malaysia give birth at places with well-equipped facilities, but only 35 per cent of our women get that."
He added that Nigeria had enough doctors but too few were willing to work in rural areas.
Dr Tupon Wata of Fiji said: "We have all the facilities we need but we also need a committed team of professionals and a standard public healthcare system to deliver a good service."
She said Fiji’s MMR was among the lowest in the Pacific islands, but still higher than Malaysia’s at 80:100,000.
Dr Ahmed El-Hadidy said: "Malaysian leaders know how to prioritise, but the most outstanding thing I have noticed is the human factor."
Egypt, he says, lacks incentives for medical professionals, and many are not motivated to work as obstetricians or gynaecologists.
"We don’t share the same vision and dream of providing the best healthcare for the people, which is naturally more important than building fancy hospitals.
"We have the needed facilities but delivering a good service is another matter," he said.
The United Nations has estimated that of the approximately half-a-million women who die during childbirth each year, 99 per cent are in developing countries.