Dakar, 23 October -- Reproductive health indicators in Africa can be greatly improved through the adoption of a comprehensive "public health" approach, high political commitment, availability of basic infrastructure (including roads, communication network), the provision of free education and healthcare services, and the steady availability of health workers.

These are the findings of a study conducted by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa in Mauritius, Seychelles and Cape Verde, and presented Wednesday at the 2nd meeting of the WHO Africa Regional Reproductive Health Task Force taking place in Dakar, Senegal.

The study shows that the positive practices that feature in the three countries surveyed had ensured an appreciable reduction of their maternal, perinatal and infant mortality rates.

Mauritius

Mauritius, with a population of 1.2 million has consistently recorded an improved reproductive health status and health indices over the past two decades. The state provides citizens with free education, healthcare and ambulance services, and 99% of births in the country are handled by skilled birth attendants. There is also a high level of political commitment to health development, including commitment of funds to education and infrastructural development, with the result that all hospitals and health clinics in the country are reachable within 30 minutes on motorable roads.

Seychelles

Made up of 115 islands, and with a population of 81,000, Seychelles boasts the following, among others: 100% deliveries by skilled birth attendants, free education up to secondary school level (literacy rate-90%), a comprehensive obstetric care, excellent patient transfer arrangements by plane, helicopter or ferry, and a stable currency.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde with a population of 434,624 provides free education and healthcare, has a very high level political commitment to health development and provides adequate funding for health services, some of which is provided by Cape Verdians living abroad.

Commenting on the results of the study, the Director of the Division of Family and Reproductive Health at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, Dr Doyin Oluwole, said: "The policies put in place by these countries amount to 'best practices.' In addition to good governance, the high level political commitment in the countries was backed by concrete action both at the macro and micro levels."

She explained that at the macro level, the political commitment in the three countries was backed by the allocation and judicious use of resources, including financial resources, free education and healthcare, improved infrastructure and good governance.

At the micro level, actions undertaken by the governments of the three countries included providing access to emergency obstetric care, free ambulance service and community awareness of the need to use services based on high literacy level.

She stated that reduction in maternal mortality need not wait for economic development to occur, arguing that measures to improve the health and status of women could, indeed, spur economic progress.

Dr Oluwole said that stable political environments were key to the sustainability of programmes designed to improve maternal and newborn health, illustrating her point with the conflict situations in several countries that had resulted in the destruction of health facilities and the disruption of entire health systems.

"By using lessons learnt from Mauritius, Seychelles and Cape Verde," she said, " other African countries can replicate or adapt the practice to suit their circumstances especially at district level, and save time and resources while improving output."

For further information,

Media contacts: 
Samuel T. Ajibola Khalifa, Mbengue
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Email: ajibolas [at] afro.who.int ; mbengueh [at] oms.sn

Technical contact: 
Dr Doyin Oluwole 
Director, Division of Family and Reproductive Health 
Tel: +47 241 39478
Email: regafro [at] afro.who.int