Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Myanmar

Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality: Maternal Death Review and Surveillance (MDSR) System launched in Myanmar

Despite the progress made during the Millennium Development Goals era, maternal mortality in Myanmar still remains unacceptably high – with latest Population Census results estimating Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the country at 282 deaths per 100,000 live births. In 2015, almost 3000 women died in Myanmar before, during or soon after giving birth.

Maternal deaths have extensive repercussions not only at individual and family level, but also on the more general socio-economic status of the country. In order to continue on the current positive development path and achieve the objectives of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, maternal mortality in Myanmar will need to be targeted in a comprehensive and concerted manner, with the collaboration of all health workers and health authorities at each level of the country’s health system.

For this reason, the launch of the new Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) system in Myanmar represents a pivotal step towards the reduction of maternal mortality and the achievement of the SDGs.

The MDSR system is a form of continuous surveillance linking the local to the national level, with the aim to understand the causes and circumstances related to each and every maternal death and trigger an appropriate response at all levels of the health system. Since September 2016, maternal deaths have been declared a notifiable event in Myanmar within 24 hours from the death. Only through effective surveillance and investigation health authorities will be able to reduce these deaths, by implementing appropriate and evidence-based corrective actions.

The MDSR system was developed by the Maternal and Reproductive Health Division of the Ministry of Health and Sports with technical support from the United Nations Population’s Fund (UNFPA) and WHO Country Office for Myanmar; funding was provided by the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund (3MDG). After the high-level launching ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw on September 23rd, opened by an address of H.E. Dr Myint Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports, subsequent advocacy and training sessions will take place at State and Regional level across Myanmar.

WHO wishes to congratulate the Ministry of Health and Sports for the commitment and efforts towards this important public health objective and remains ready to support health authorities in the subsequent phases of MDSR implementation.