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Dept for International Development

Answer

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to increase the number of skilled birth attendants in sub- Saharan Africa. [171675] Hilary Benn: A woman in Africa is over 100 times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth than is a woman in a developed country. Many millions more suffer ill health and long-term disability as a result of complications in pregnancy or childbirth. We now know that almost all deaths as a result of pregnancy and childbirth are avoidable when proven health interventions are available and women are able to use them. Improved coverage of skilled care at delivery and access to emergency obstetric care when necessary are key to reducing maternal mortality. In addition, over a third of maternal deaths could be avoided if effective family planning services and affordable, safe, legal abortion services were available and accessible. At present the health systems in most Africa countries are too weak and under-resourced to deliver these interventions. The Department for International Development is working with partners to identify and address constraints to progress with skilled attendance, and to support work to strengthen health systems that increase coverage and utilization of health services, including addressing issues such as human resource constraints and access to medicines. In addition, in an increasing number of countries, DFID's health assistance is provided through sector budget support or indirectly through general budget support. In these cases, DFID is increasingly explicit that sustainable child and maternal health outcomes need greater priority in many national planning and budgeting processes. Internationally, DFID also provides substantial support for research to improve the evidence base on safe motherhood and newborn health. DFID will continue to challenge and support the international system, in particular the UN, to play an effective role in improving peoples' health in Africa and will continue to promote effective international partnerships that have a role to play, particularly the evolving partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

421 c243-4W; 171675

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Staff Maternity services Research Childbirth Sub-Saharan Africa

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk