The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its first global roadmap to combat postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, affecting millions annually and claiming around 70,000 lives each year. PPH, defined as severe bleeding after childbirth, is preventable and treatable but disproportionately impacts women in low-resource regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where over 85% of PPH-related deaths occur. Factors such as anemia, placental abnormalities, and complications like infections and pre-eclampsia heighten the risk of PPH, but access to quality antenatal care, ultrasound, and vigilant postnatal monitoring can mitigate these risks.
The roadmap, launched by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, seeks to address disparities in maternal health outcomes, advocating for enhanced access to healthcare services, skilled birth attendants, and essential resources like oxytocin, tranexamic acid, and blood transfusions. The initiative emphasizes both prevention and immediate response, with WHO Director for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Dr. Pascale Allotey, underscoring the importance of accessible, high-quality maternity care that includes trained healthcare workers and essential equipment to treat PPH promptly.
The roadmap outlines priority actions from 2023 to 2030, including the development of comprehensive PPH guidelines, innovative research, improved procurement systems for critical medicines, and heightened awareness and advocacy efforts. It was created through extensive consultations with over 130 experts and will be implemented with support from a steering committee. WHO, alongside partners like USAID, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), will provide technical support to help countries integrate global PPH guidelines into national policies, focusing on regions with the highest maternal mortality rates. WHO’s initiative marks a critical step toward reducing maternal deaths and ensuring safe childbirth for women worldwide.
