Luanda, 8 October 2008 -- Luanda will host a regional consultation on management of hemorrhages during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum from 13-14 October 2008 as part of efforts to improve maternal and new-born health care in the African region.

The meeting is also part of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals related to maternal health, which target a reduction of maternal mortality by 75 per cent between 1990 and 2015, as well as the improvement of the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel.

About 200 national and foreign delegates will attend the meeting including. The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luís Gomes Sambo, will also be in attendance.

High on the agenda of the two-day meeting are a global and regional overview of maternal and newborn mortality magnitude - causes, challenges and opportunities; the magnitude, challenges and interventions for conditions of haemorrhage during pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum and priority interventions for the management of ante-partum haemorrhage.

Other agenda items include presentation of studies, research findings and country experiences on haemorrhage management.

During the meeting the participants will also discuss the roles and responsibilities of governments, training institutions and health associations in outlining strategies and creating essential skills for assistance to women during pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery.

On the sidelines of the meeting, a panel discussion will be held on the role of training institutions, professional associations and governments regarding priority strategies in the training of health manpower to acquire essential competencies for the management of pregnancy, labour and postpartum.

The meeting is expected to come up with recommendations on priority actions in the domain of training and services, for the reduction of maternal and newborn deaths caused by hemorrhage.

According to a recent study by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and World Bank, only 0.1% reduction in maternal mortality was achieved in the African Region in 2005.

This situation has been blamed on a number of health system constraints, including the fact that 57% of women in countries in the Region lack access to assistance by qualified staff during childbirth.

Issued by WHO Office in Angola.

For further information please contact

WHO Office in Luanda, Angola, at Rua Major Kahangulo 197, 7 andar,

or

telephone: (244) 222 395 701 Fax: (244) 222 332314 -

E-Mail: wr [at] ao.afro.who.int (wr[at]ao[dot]afro[dot]who[dot]int)