HealthProm

Child mortality still remains too high in Azerbaijan and children are still dying needlessly. The state budget for health is among the lowest in the region and primary care services are underdeveloped, with staff poorly trained and lacking core infrastructure. The majority of maternal and neonatal deaths are preventable.

Safer Childbirth

Project Active: 2003 – 2010

Our partners: Baku-based NGO ‘Family and Society’

Donors: GlaxoSmithKline, Anglo Azerbaijani Society

This project was aimed at achieving sustainable developments in the health of mothers and their babies through improved delivery of maternity and neonatal care for the local population and 228,000 refugees and internally displaced persons living in and around Baku, Sheki and Khizi and in seven, smaller districts.

Approximately 910 doctors and midwives attended a series of workshops, designed to improve knowledge and clinical skills.  A working manual was provided for each participant, and information booklets and leaflets provided for women during pregnancy. Low-cost, essential equipment was provided for the three main hospitals and in the districts.  The Kiwi assisted vaginal delivery apparatus was introduced and has reduced the number of women requiring Caesarean section, with its attendant risks of anaesthesia.

HealthProm’s project achieved and surpassed its objectives.  In Sheki neonatal mortality declined by 58% and postnatal complications by 86%. In Khizi, the number of births doubled and only one woman during a two year period required transfer for treatment of complications.

Mothers and babies are now cared for together,  breast feeding is almost 100%, complications relating to labour and delivery have been reduced and there has been a remarkable reduction in complication of the neonate.

The hospital is staffed by midwives and they now have their own defined role and responsibilities. Twelve Master Trainers have been educated in the concepts of adult learning and have responsibility for continued education in Azerbaijan.