According to 2015 data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 215 Timorese women die each year per 100,000 births.
Based on data from the 2010 Demographic Health Survey there has been a significant reduction in maternal mortality rates in the past five years. In 2010, the figures were 557 deaths per 100,000 births.
WHO Coordinator in the Department of Family Health, Gender and Life Course Dr Neena Raina said Timor-Leste has achieved a significant reduction in maternal mortality rates.
“One of the highest prevalence of maternal mortality is in Timor-Leste, but the country has made very significant progress in reducing maternal mortality,” she said at the 69th session of the WHO Regional for South East Asia in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
She said the main causes of death during pregnancy and childbirth were bleeding, high blood pressure and infections.
She said Timor-Leste had a good national strategic plan for maternal and child health and that the country’s leaders had pledged to implement programs to address the issue.
However, despite the reduction, she said many women still faced difficulties in accessing health facilities.
She also expressed appreciation for the effective outreach programs in Timor-Leste such as the Integrated Community Health Service (SISCA), home visits and family health programs to encourage women to access local health facilities.
The four main issues that need to be addressed in order to reduce maternal mortality rates in member countries include strengthening human resources and the referral system, as well as providing good-quality treatment and raising awareness among communities.
As a newly independent country, she said it would take time for Timor-Leste to develop human resources and invest in equipment and medication, although there has been significant progress in the country’s health sector.
Meanwhile, Timor’s Deputy Minister of Health Dr Ana Isabel de Sousa said maternal and child health issues were already one of the major priorities of the Health Ministry.
She said the government had committed to strengthening human resources in all sectors including the Ministry of Health and had therefore allocated funds from the general state budget to help build capacity across the board.
“Communicable and non-communicable diseases, mental illness, neglected tropical diseases, dental health, maternal and child health, including water and sanitation, are the priority issues for Timor-Leste,” she said.
In addition, she said the ministry would also focus on improving the system of patient referrals for treatment overseas.
Maternal and child health was one of the main issues discussed by member countries at the Regional Committee meeting.
Meanwhile, WHO data shows that of the 11 member countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste, Nepal has the highest prevalence of maternal mortality in the region at 258 deaths per 100,000 births followed by Timor-Leste.
