§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what response his Department will make to the report on maternal mortality published on 20 October by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the UN Population Fund; and if he will make a statement; [134466]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of global trends in maternal health; what impact this assessment has made on his Department's funding policy; and if he will make a statement. [134467]
§ Hilary BennDFID works with international partners to monitor global trends in progress towards the Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health and its associated target of reducing the maternal mortality ratio by 75 per cent. between 1990 and 2015. The report on maternal mortality in 2000 published on 20 October by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and the UN Population Fund estimates that there were 529,000 maternal deaths worldwide in 2000, with a maternal mortality ratio of 400 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The majority of the burden is borne in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The report is important in highlighting the magnitude of the problem. Inadequate information systems in many poor countries mean there is a high degree of uncertainty around the estimates and so they are less useful in assessing trends over time. A proxy indicator for monitoring trends is the proportion of births attended by a skilled health worker. Skilled attendant coverage in developing countries increased from 42 per cent. in 1990 to 52 per cent. in 2000 but there was substantial variation between regions. Coverage rose significantly in East and South East Asia and in Northern Africa. It is highest in Latin America, at 85 per cent. In contrast, there has been little progress in 498W sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where women give birth without assistance from skilled attendants in more than half of cases.
Evidence from middle-income countries suggests that significant progress can be made through improved access to skilled attendance at birth, timely access to emergency obstetric care in the event of life-threatening complications, family planning services and action to address unsafe abortion. Strengthening the health system is central to an effective response. If poorer countries are to make similar progress, substantially increased action is needed.
DFID is focusing attention on this Millennium Development Goal. Our Public Service Agreement includes targets on skilled attendance in Africa and Asia. Our approach includes advocacy in the international arena, support to countries to strengthen health systems and maternal and reproductive health services, and support for research and improved measurement tools. Since 1997 we have committed approximately £1.5 billion to support countries to strengthen health systems. In addition we are supporting the maternal health work of international multilateral agencies and international NGOs.