Feasibility of implementing MPDSR across the country, especially in private sector

The public health specialist, Dr Sakina Bello, said it is possible to implement the MPCDSR system across an entire country, adding that the involvement of both public and private healthcare sectors could significantly enhance the effectiveness and reach of the system.

She said, “This can be achieved through collaboration and partnership between stakeholders across government, public healthcare sector, private healthcare providers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and international partners. Creating partnerships ensures that resources, expertise and data are shared to achieve common goals.”

The expert said government could play a key role by passing legislation or policies that require both public and private healthcare facilities to participate in the MPCDSR system.

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While saying this ensures that all maternal and perinatal deaths are reported, reviewed and responded to regardless of the sector, she added that community engagement and sensitisation can also contribute to that.

Findings reveal that Lagos State for instance is one of the states in the country that has a good scorecard for the implementation of the MPCDSR programme. The state’s MPDSR system involves a committee of health professionals meeting regularly at hospitals and at the state level to examine information about the circumstances around every death and make recommendations about what actions need to be taken to prevent deaths from happening due to similar reasons.

Dr Moshood Salawu, Senior maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) Advisor for Options, a global health organization that has been supporting the federal government in the implementation of MPCDSR, said there is need to address the challenges with the response component of the programme across the country.

He said “In order to achieve the goal of the MPCDSR which is to reduce preventable maternal and child deaths, the response component must be effective. And Options is working with states to generate these actions.”

He said the implementation of the community model of the MPCDSR in Soba ward of Kaduna State by Options led to a decline in the maternal and perinatal deaths in the ward.

“It was a form of pilot study to see how best to reduce the maternal and perinatal deaths in the community because most of these deaths happen in the community, not only at the facility level.”