56% decline in Karnataka's maternal mortality rate, thanks to Singapore initiative

BENGALURU: The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Karnataka has come down by 56% in five years. While 143 women died for every 1 lakh deliveries in Karnataka in 2014, the number stands at 62 in 2019, according to data with the government.

This achievement is being attributed to a three-year collaboration with Singapore. Under it, 223 medical personnel, including doctors from the state, were trained by Singapore General Hospital in identification and management of high-risk pregnancies along with other MMR-related interventions.

Singapore, with an MMR of 9 because of its best health practices, is also collaborating with states like Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, to bring down the rate there. Karnataka government concluded its three-year partnership with SingHealth (Singapore Health Services Pvt Ltd) on Saturday.

Dr Tan Hak Koon, specialist team leader, senior consultant, department of obstetrics and gynaecology, SingHealth, said he was shocked to see the sheer number of deliveries being handled by doctors in Karnataka government hospitals. "I visited several government hospitals in Bengaluru, Mandya and Mysuru under the programme and saw doctors working for long hours and attending to high number of cases. The major causes of maternal mortality were infection, acute bleeding, haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia (complication during delivery due to high blood pressure)," he explained.

According to Dr Koon, MMR in Singapore is seen among women suffering from cancer and cardiac complications during pregnancy. "We found the need to train nurses and doctors to identify and handle high-risk pregnancies," he said.

Dr N Raj Kumar, deputy director, maternal health, state health department, said better labour room management helped in tacking MMR. "Not going to hospital at the right time and lack of access to reach there (transportation) are two major problems. Skill-related issues have been tackled, thanks to the collaboration with Singapore," he said.