Maternal, Newborn Health Dictionary Unveilled

The Mama Ye! Advocacy Coalition, a group of non-governmental organisations working together to increase maternal and child survival has announced the publication of the maternal and newborn health Mama Ye dictionary, in Accra. The dictionary booklet contains the definitions of scientific terms related to health and mortality throughout pregnancy designed for use by media outlets and students. The glossary aims to �make news reporting, feature writing and investigative journalism easier and more results-oriented,� according to Vicky T. Okine, the Executive Director for Evidence For Action. It contains description of terms such as haemorrhage (obstetrical or postpartum haemorrhage) PPH which is the excessive loss of blood by the mother after giving birth, and is the leading cause of maternal death in worldwide and in Ghana. Professor Richard Adanu, Country Director, Evidence for Action, stated that the glossary would aid in raising awareness of the frequency of maternal and newborn deaths in developing countries, as well as for highlighting the advancements that have been made so far in this field. The announcement comes in the wake of a five-year study published in the Ghana Medical Journal which studied the causes of high mortality rates in hospitals throughout Ghana. The study titled: Pregnancy Related Causes of Deaths in Ghana: a 5-year Retrospective Study states that Ghanaian maternal mortality rates are particularly high compared to global estimates, with one in every 68 women dying due to pregnancy complications as opposed to the United States, where one in almost 5,000 women face the same fate. With the publication of the MNH glossary, there are hopes that such discrepancies would be discovered and reported. The glossary is one step in an international effort along with the Ghanaian Government, with the goal of decreasing mortality rates of both mothers and infants within 42 hours of birth. Maternal and child mortality is often viewed as a crucial aspect in determining the developing status of a nation, which is why they are included as Millennium Development Goals-8 goals established by the United Nations in order to accelerate progress in developing nations. Other organisations involved in the effort include the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) and The World Bank.