World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific

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WHO meeting sets a target of reducing maternal deaths by 30%

Worldwide, close to 600 000 women are estimated to die each year from complications related to pregnancy, most of which can be prevented. Some 50 000 of these deaths are in the Western Pacific Region. Although the Western Pacific Region may fare better in terms of maternal mortality than other WHO Regions, there are marked differences among countries.

For example, for every 100 000 Laotian women who give birth, 650 die due to obstetric complications. On the other hand, in Australia, the maternal mortality ratio per
100 000 live births is less than three. In Singapore, the ratio is four for every 100 000 live births; in New Zealand, it is five; in Japan, it is six. In Cambodia, on the other hand, the ratio is 473 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births; in Papua New Guinea, 370; the Philippines, 172; and Mongolia, 158. In fact, 40% of the Region's maternal deaths occur in Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. Most of these deaths are preventable.

The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) reflects a woman's basic health status, her access to health care and the quality of care that she receives.

To support countries in reducing maternal deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) held a Consultative Workshop on Maternal Mortality Reduction in Selected Countries in the Western Pacific Region co-sponsored by UNICEF in Manila from 29 May to 2 June. The goal was to support countries to reduce maternal mortality ratios by 30% by 2003 from 1998 levels. The meeting also sought to determine why progress in reducing the maternal mortality ratio has been slow in some countries and how this could be remedied.

Opening the meeting, Dr Shigeru Omi, the World Health Organization Regional Director for the Western Pacific, noted that high maternal mortality ratios in some countries were "a matter of grave concern".

Dr Omi pointed out the need to "rethink" existing programmes to improve maternal health in the Region. For example, training of traditional birth attendants and community-based health workers has not in itself significantly contributed to the reduction of maternal deaths, because these workers are usually trained to handle normal aseptic delivery only and not emergency obstetrics. "In the past, more resources were earmarked for antenatal care than for delivery, immediate postpartum care and emergency obstetrics care, whereas the vast majority of complications occur during and after delivery and in the first hours and days after delivery," he said.

Some 30 participants, consisting of decision-makers and technical staff responsible for maternal and child health, were introduced to intervention programmes, new concepts and experiences of countries with low maternal mortality to aid them in drafting national working plans to make pregnancy safer.

New strategies therefore need to be adopted by countries with high maternal mortality ratios to reduce maternal mortality by 30% from1998 levels by 2003. To reach this goal, the workshop identified a number of key actions that need to be taken:

  • Governments need to undertake more aggressive steps to reduce high maternal mortality ratios and neonatal mortality rates.
  • National action plans on safe motherhood need to identify possible sources of investments to implement programmes for the years 2000 to 2005.
  • Countries need to mobilize political support to implement these plans as soon as possible.
Dr Omi urged governments to translate political commitment into action by carefully selecting interventions and allocating or identifying sources of funds.
For more information, contact Mr Charles Raby, Public Information Officer at (632) 528 9983 or email:


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