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আজকের Agenda X UHC Forum Health Debate – Where are we on Safe Birth and Zero Preventable Maternal Mortality?

The second episode of আজকের Agenda X UHC Forum Health Debate took place on 4 July 2024 at 7:30 PM.

আজকের Agenda, a series of policy conversations initiated by PPRC in 2020, is partnering with the UHC Forum, a coalition of multi-skilled professionals dedicated to advancing Universal Health Coverage, to bring you the second UHC Forum Health Debate. Bangladesh has made significant strides in reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR).

Yet, despite a 38% decline in the maternal mortality ratio from 441 to 156 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2000 and 2022, recent deaths, including that of Under-19 Women’s National Football team member Razia Sultana, underscore the need to reassess entrenched barriers to progress in preventing maternal mortality. Maternal malnutrition, lack of awareness about maternal healthcare benefits, abortion-related death, inadequate postpartum care and limited access to skilled healthcare professionals act as the barriers to safe birth. While the WHO recommends an ideal C-section delivery rate of 10-15%, the C-section delivery rate in Bangladesh has reached 50.7% according to the SVRS 2023 report, marking a 9% increase from 2022. Alarmingly, 16 women died during C-section deliveries at various hospitals across the country between February and March 2024.

This brings us to the crucial question: Where are we on Safe Birth and Zero Preventable Maternal Mortality?

This health debate explored this pressing issue with our esteemed panelists:

– Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel, Public Health Specialist & Member, UHC Forum

– Dr. Fatema Ashraf, Professor of Obs and Gynae & Member, UHC Forum

– Dr. Md. Nizam Uddin, Line Director, MCHAH, DGHS

– Professor Tahmina Banu, Director, CRICS & Member, UHC Forum

The session was moderated by Hossain Zillur Rahman, Executive Chairman, PPRC and Convener, UHC Forum.