French NGO delivers healthcare for birthing mothers in Champassak
In line with the Lao Health Financing Strategy 2011-2015, the French organisation Medecins du Monde (MdM) is providing free medical care for all women giving birth at healthcare centres in Soukhoumma and Mounlapamok districts in Champassak province.
The objective of the project is to support the Ministry of Health’s goal to reduce the death rate of mothers and their children.
To this end, MdM is providing free childbirth assistance and ante-natal care and post-natal care in the two districts through a voucher scheme.
Improving mother and child health is a top priority for the Ministry of Health.
The Safe Motherhood Voucher Scheme was implemented by MdM in collaboration with the Lao Red Cross and Swiss Red Cross last October and is expected to provide safe delivery for 2,853 pregnant women at health centres in the two districts.
The programme aims to remove financial barriers to reproductive and child health services through the free delivery policy, and improve reproductive health and mother neonatal and child health services by consolidating these services at all levels. This is aimed at reinforcing the need for continuous care, improving the knowledge and skills of villagers regarding healthy reproductive behaviour, and the health of mothers and their children.
Head of the Mother and Child Division of Champassak provincial Health Department, Dr Orlathay Satrakoun, said these districts were chosen because mothers-to-be in these rural areas have little access to medical services. If the programme runs successfully, donors may provide more funds to extend the programme.
The Safe Motherhood programme provides not only free childbirth care for women and their children, but also free medical check-ups, transportation to health centres, referral, death allowance, meals, and financial support for a single person to take care of the women during their stay in hospital.
Dr Orlathay said that giving birth at dispensaries and at district hospitals is the safest way as these places have appropriate medical equipment and skilled medical staff who are trained in delivery assistance.
He added that if a woman’s condition is too complicated to deal with at a healthcare centre, she will be transferred to the provincial hospital, which has more modern equipment. To make sure women are safe during childbirth, Dr Orlathay advises at least four check-ups during pregnancy. In addition, new mothers should also get a check-up after giving birth.
It is still too early to analyse the results of the Safe Motherhood Voucher Scheme in terms of coverage and utilisation. However, the current results are encouraging.
At least 60 percent of the pregnant women who received a voucher came for the first antenatal care check-up.
After three to four months, eight percent of the women who received a voucher delivered in a health facility, which indicates a coverage of 20-25 percent on a yearly basis.
The programme is currently running its first phase till September 2012, followed by a second phase from September 2012 to September 2014.
