Health Ministry aims to decrease mother and newborn deaths

Georgia’s Ministry of Health is piloting a project at more than a dozen hospitals in a bid to reduce the number of deaths among new mothers and their babies.

The Ministry hosted a conference today where it provided different perinatal status to 14 healthcare institutions of western Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti regions. 

The conference was held in Kutaisi town and attended by Ministry staff and other medical experts. 

The perinatal period referred to the time immediately before and after a woman gave birth.

The Ministry said before it granted the 14 medical facilities with a specific perinatal status, the institutions had been selected for a pilot project aimed to reduce the number of mother and newborn deaths. 

In particular, based on the Health Ministry project, all hospitals offering gynecological services will be given first, second or third level status, and receive patients depending on the condition of the mother and her child. 

• The medical facilities given first perinatal status will offer services to mothers giving births to healthy newborns. These institutions will also be tasked to treat a mother and a newborn deemed 'at risk', before they are sent to the relevant hospital for appropriate care; 
• The medical facilities given second perinatal status will provide services to for mothers giving births and those 'at risk'. The facilities will also treat newborns with mild-moderate complications that can be easily and quickly treated; and
• The medical facilities given third perinatal status will care for mothers and newborns deemed to be at 'high risk' who are in need of immediate treatment and observation.

The Ministry officials said if mothers and babies, before and after birth, received timely care at the appropriate  medical facilities, it would significantly reduce the number of mother and child deaths. 

 Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti medical facilities have been involved in the pilot project since May 1, 2015.