Govt urged to tackle soaring maternal and infant mortality
BY GRACE AUKA SALMANG
WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) regional director for the Western Pacific Dr Takeshi Kasai has thrown down a challenge for Papua New Guinea leaders.
He wants the leaders to approach the issue on PNG’s high maternal and new born mortality differently.
“I know there have been efforts in the past to address these issues, without great success.
“One thing is clear, we cannot approach the issue in the same way, we have in the past, if we do, we will not get a different result,” Dr Kasai said yesterday.
Being part of the multi-stakeholder consensus meeting on the situation analysis for maternal and newborn health yesterday at Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby, Dr Kasai said it was a high priority for him to the responsibility to protect women and children’s health.
“I will make maternal and child health a priority flagship for Papua New Guinea during my term as regional director over the next five years.
“PNG child and maternal health situation is the result of many challenging and complex factors but Sir PukaTemu has stood up to address this crisis and we are here today because of his leadership.
“Even though I have been coming to PNG for many years, I have to admit that when my team briefed me on their work…I was shocked,” he said.
Dr Kasai said he knew there had been efforts in the past to address these issues, without great success.
He said there were four key things that must be different.
“First, we need to define the problem differently, we need to go deeper in our analysis, and have a more a comprehensive understanding of the structure of the issue.
“Second, we must work together as one team to address this crisis, once we have that structure, we will have a clearer process.” He said thirdly, they need good, capable people to work on these issues both in health department and on partners’ side.
“Finally, leadership and political commitment, because fortunately, we have this with Sir Puka Temu. “We could not have a more forceful or passionate advocate at the Cabinet table but with Sir Puka’s leadership, I believe we will have the political attention and focus we need.”
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