Hearing on Maternal Health in the Pacific

News Release
17 September 2009

Cross-Party Parliamentarians’ Group Holds Hearing on Maternal Health in the Pacific

Wellington, 17th September 2009: The New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development (NZPPD) will hold an ‘Open Hearing on Maternal Health in the Pacific’ at the New Zealand Parliament on 21st September 2009.

A broad range of individuals and organisations plan to make submissions at the Open Hearing, including high level representatives of the United Nations, Pacific parliamentarians, New Zealand’s International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID), Pacific midwives and other reproductive health organisations, academics, research organisations and development charities. 16 New Zealand cross-party parliamentarians will hear the submissions, joined by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who will be representing the Australian Parliamentary Group on Population and Development.

Many women in the Pacific do not have access to family planning, skilled birth attendants, and safe and clean supplies and facilities, including emergency care if they need it. Women living in remote areas may face journeys of several hours or more to get to a health facility or trained health workers. When they do reach health services, many women still face a high risk of maternal death due to a lack of quality services.

``The high rates of maternal deaths in our Pacific region are largely a preventable tragedy that has a huge social and economic impact. It is critical that New Zealand prioritise and invest in maternal health and related sexual and reproductive health issues in our home region’’, says Dr. Jackie Blue MP, NZPPD Chair.

A woman in PNG is around 50 times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than a woman in New Zealand. At the global level, every minute another woman dies needlessly in pregnancy or childbirth.

Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) report the highest rates of maternal deaths in the region. The sub-region of Melanesia has the worst reported rates of maternal deaths in the Pacific.

``Maternal health is at the very heart of achieving development in the Pacific. Urgent action is needed now to drastically reduce these preventable deaths of Pacific women’’, says Joanna Spratt, Director of International Development, Family Planning International.

The overall aim of the Open Hearing is to increase understanding of, and investment in, maternal health and related issues in the Pacific region by New Zealand and other stakeholders. A report, including recommendations on key actions to improve maternal health in the Pacific, will be produced and used to increase action.

The NZPPD has a strategic focus on international population and development issues, with a particular focus on the wider Pacific region. The focus will not be on maternal health domestically in New Zealand.

Background

The NZPPD is cross-party, with currently 48 members representing just fewer than 40 percent of all New Zealand MPs. The group has provided a forum for New Zealand parliamentarians to engage and act on international population and development issues for eleven years. The NZPPD has a particular focus on the Pacific region, where the population and development challenges remain great. Family Planning International houses the NZPPD Secretariat.

Media representatives are welcome to attend the Open Hearing. Spokespeople, images and maternal health case studies are available on request.

ENDS

© Scoop Media