Africa-Press – Mauritius. ‘In order to optimise the mother’s health prior to conception, the Ministry of Health and Wellness is introducing a new service, the Preconception Care.
This service is defined as a set of interventions that aims at identifying and modifying the biomedical, behavioural and social risks to the woman’s health or pregnancy outcome’.
The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, made this announcement, today, during a ceremony for the launching of activities in the context of World Patient Safety Day 2021, at the Caudan Arts Centre, in Port-Louis.
The theme for World Patient Safety Day this year is Safe maternal and new-born care. The Country Representative of the World Health Organization, Dr Laurent Musango, and other personalities were also present on this occasion.
In his address, Minister Jagutpal highlighted that the preconception period is an ideal time to introduce interventions relating to nutrition and other lifestyle factors, to promote health, and to ensure good pregnancy preparedness.
The Preconception Care, he pointed out, is targeted for a planned pregnancy and a healthier pre-pregnancy status through the approach of folic acid supplement and the treatment of chronic and infectious diseases.
With regards to the World Patient Safety Day, the Minister underlined that it was established in 2019 by the World Health Assembly and is commemorated for the first time in Mauritius.
He reminded that the duties of healthcare and service providers are to ensure that patients are catered for in an environment where their safety is ensured, to manage patients’ risks and to foster learning and supportive cultures, among others. As such, this year’s theme invites healthcare and service providers to rethink maternal and new-born care, he stated.
Furthermore, Dr Jagutpal reiterated his Ministry’s commitment to further improve maternal, new-born and child health, as well as to empower its staff by providing them with the necessary tools and skills in order to carry out their duties as efficiently as possible.
He also reassured that the Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to work earnestly so as to enhance the care and service provided to patients.
For his part, Dr Musango encouraged Government, the civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders to speak up for patients’ safety. He also observed that care should be provided with compassion and respect by healthcare personnel.
He also remarked that figures show that 70% of maternal death and 33% of new-born death at global level come from Africa and as such, lifesaving actions must be undertaken.
However, the situation in Mauritius is not as alarming as for the African continent, but ongoing efforts must be made as the health sector is always evolving, he stated. The ceremony was also an opportunity to launch three short videos on Preconception Care entitled ‘Mo bébé mo priorité.
So bien être mo dévoir’; a pamphlet on ‘Soins Préconceptionnels’; a booklet entitled ‘Guide: Votre santé avant la grossesse’; guidelines on Preconception Care for health professionals; and guidelines on the Clinical Use of blood.
