The Ministry of Health has today launched a first ever ‘Infection Prevention and Control in Maternity Units’ Training Manual.
This manual will help train doctors, nurses, and midwives to prevent and reduce infections in maternity facilities.
The presence of key stakeholders in the health sector signifies the importance of this Maternity Units’ Training Manual.
Developed through the Australian Government’s Fiji Health Sector Support Program, and the Fiji Ministry of Health it is focused on improving the care of mothers and babies.
The Minister of Health Jone Usamate admitted the fact that we are still yet to meet the World Health standards in preventing maternal deaths.
“We have notice here in Fiji we’ve had a 50 percent reduction in maternal deaths from preventable causes in 2015 compared to that in 1990 so there is some progress but we have not attained the level of achievement that we want to which is a 75 percent reduction last year. Our maternity rate was 44.4 percent per 100,000 births” said Usamate
Usamate hopes that with this training manual they will prevent the risk of maternal deaths.
“We have concern in Fiji with the fact that a lot of women present themselves very late and not being able to identify danger sign and they fail to seek immediate care especially from the expected mothers and their family members and that is something our staff continuing dealing with issues when theyare needed” said Usamate
For the Australian government this assistance is all about working with the health sector to provide a better services to the people.
“Its the investment that we can make through the commitment of individuals and the approach of government who recognize the need to modernize system and process” said Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific Steven Ciobo
The training manual will be used in all hospitals around the country.