KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The high maternal mortality rate in the Western Pacific Region is unacceptable as pregnancy- related deaths are not a new disease that is not treatable, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said here on Sunday.
Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director of the Western Pacific, told reporters at a press conference that each day more than 100 women die from pregnancy-related causes in the region.
"I think it is absolutely shameful in this day and age that so many women in the region are dying in childbirth or pregnancy.
"This is not acceptable. After all, this is not a new disease for which we have no treatment. We have the answers," said Shin.
Shin attributed the high mortality rate to poverty and costly medical care, while pointing out the fact that too many women in the region were giving birth at home without a skilled birth attendant.
"And too many women are denied the education they need to take care of their own health," said Shin, adding that such phenomena must be changed.
Shin said the region had strengthened its ability to respond to emergencies such as the H1N1 pandemic and natural disasters, but he stressed that he was not happy at all with the maternal mortality rate.
When asked about the countries that stand out among others with high maternal mortality rates, Shin named Papua New Guinea, Laos and Cambodia.
Admitting the fact that these countries are poor, Shin said modern facilities should be provided for them to overcome the problems.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the country had put in place comprehensive health services that successfully reduced the maternal mortality rate to 28 per 100,000 life births.
At the same time, the infant mortality rate had been reduced to six per 1,000 life births, added Liow.
Sharing the Malaysian experience, Liow said rural clinics and mobile clinics rendering healthcare services throughout Malaysia had not only cut the mortality rates, but also raised the people's awareness about their well-being.
The press conference was held in conjunction with the 61st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific from Oct. 11 to 15 in Putrajaya, Malaysia's federal administration center.
To be opened by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, the meeting will see the presentation of 16 papers, while a total of 33 countries and regions from the Western Pacific have confirmed participation.