The Ministry of Health and UNFPA conducted a comprehensive assessment and midwifery gap analysis in 2019, with the purpose of identifying gaps and strengthening the quality of midwifery services and improving competency-based pre-service education (PSE) and in-service trainings for nurse midwives.
- To strategize on how the country should tackle the high maternal mortalities and new-born health challenges, and ensuring that the people of Lesotho access quality health services.
- The assessment was meant to provide recommendations on how to improve midwifery for quality delivery.
- Lesotho has a high maternal mortality ratio at 1,024 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births – the life time risk of dying is 1 in 32 women.
- The under-five mortality is significantly improved from 117 in 2009 to 85 in 2014. Similarly, the infant mortality also fell, from 91 deaths in 2004 and 2009 to 59 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014 and the neonatal mortality rate is 34 deaths per 1,000 births (Lesotho ROADMAP 2007-2015)
- Maternal mortality still remains a critical challenge in many low- income countries inclusive of Lesotho. 1 of every 29 children dies in the first month of life.
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