Maternal deaths trippled in Cameroon in 22 years



Maternal death rate in Cameroon is triple since 1991 when the millennium development goals were proposed. The rate has skyrocketed from 210 to 690 per 100.000 live births. What accounts to this?
• Lack of personnel to manage this emergency because in the recent past, Cameroon has not been training midwives.
• The people in the field managing these emergencies have little or no knowledge
• Pregnant women don’t get enough sensitization on the importance of early Ante Natal Care
• Husbands fail to cooperate with wives especially dependent wives during pregnancy to get needed attention in time
• The assurances pregnant and ignorant women get from “modern traditional doctors” become futile only when it is too late for them to get help in clinics.
To this effect, I think two basic things need to be done: Training of experts and sensitization of the population.
Two weeks ago, I visited a maternity to do a vox pop with pregnant women and nursing mothers on their knowledge on antenatal care, and found out that most of them start ANC just by intuition and not by obligation.
I have been communicating with some doctors to cooperate as resource persons in a radio program I am about to start running on Health. Maternal Health issues will certainly be topical. If diffused widely and in all languages comprehensible to the masses, I think a U turn can be made.



Thanks for your readership,
Tina Young.

Like this story?
Join World Pulse now to read more inspiring stories and connect with women speaking out across the globe!
Leave a supportive comment to encourage this author
Tell your own story
Explore more stories on topics you care about