Vol 43 # 2 June 2011 - Kma.org.kw

170
WHO-Facts Sheet June 2011
prevented or cured. Areas of progress over the last 20
years include:
• governments establishing national programmes to
prevent and control visual impairment;
• eye care services increasingly integrated into
primary and secondary health care systems, with a
focus on the provision of services that are available,
affordable and high quality;
• campaigns to raise awareness, including schoolbased
education; and
• stronger international partnerships, with
engagement of the private sector and civil society.
Data over the last 20 years shows that there has
been significant progress in preventing and curing
visual impairment in many countries. Furthermore,
there has been a massive reduction in onchocerciasisrelated
blindness as part of a significant reduction in
the disease. This has been achieved through a number
of successful international partnerships.
Specific achievements include Ghana and Morocco,
both of whom have reported elimination of trachoma
(2010 and 2007 respectively). Over the last decade,
Brazil has been providing eye care services through the
national social security system. Since 2009, China has
invested over 100 million dollars in cataract surgeries.
Oman has completely integrated eye care service
provision in the primary health care framework over
the last decade and since 1995 India has made available
funds for eye care service provision for the poorest at
district level.
WHO response
WHO coordinates the international efforts to reduce
visual impairments.
It’s role is to:
• develop policies and strategies to prevent
blindness;
• to give technical assistance to Member States and
partners;
• to monitor and evaluate programmes; and
• to coordinate international partnerships.
In 2009, the World Health Assembly approved the
‘2009-13 Action Plan for the Prevention of Avoidable
Blindness and Visual Impairment’ , a roadmap for
Member States, WHO Secretariat and international
partners.
WHO works to strengthen national and countrylevel
efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness, help
national health care providers treat eye diseases, expand
access to eye health services, and increase rehabilitation
for people with residual visual impairment. Building
and strengthening health systems is a particular area
of focus.
WHO leads an international alliance of governments,
private sector and civil society organizations. The aim
of this partnership is to eliminate blinding trachoma
from the world by the year 2020.
For further information: WHO Media centre ;
Telephone: +41 22 791 2222;
E-mail: mediainquiries@who.int
4. SOME 2.6 MILLION BABIES
STILLBORN IN 2009
New global and country estimates published in
Lancet Series
Some 2.6 million stillbirths occurred worldwide
in 2009, according to the first comprehensive set of
estimates published in April 2011 in a special series of
The Lancet medical journal.
Every day more than 7 200 babies are stillborn − a
death just when parents expect to welcome a new life
− and 98% of them occur in low- and middle-income
countries. High-income countries are not immune,
with one in 320 babies stillborn − a rate that has
changed little in the past decade.
The new estimates show that the number of
stillbirths worldwide has declined by only 1.1% per
year, from 3 million in 1995 to 2.6 million in 2009. This
is even slower than reductions for both maternal and
child mortality in the same period.
The five main causes of stillbirth are childbirth
complications, maternal infections in pregnancy,
maternal disorders (especially hypertension and
diabetes), fetal growth restriction and congenital
abnormalities.
When and where do stillbirths occur
Almost half of all stillbirths, 1.2 million, happen
when the woman is in labour. These deaths are directly
related to the lack of skilled care at this critical time for
mothers and babies.
Two-thirds happen in rural areas, where skilled birth
attendants − in particular midwives and physicians
− are not always available for essential care during
childbirth and for obstetric emergencies, including
caesarean sections.
The stillbirth rate varies sharply by country, from
the lowest rates of 2 per 1000 births in Finland and
Singapore and 2.2 per 1000 births in Denmark and
Norway, to highs of 47 in Pakistan and 42 in Nigeria,
36 in Bangladesh, and 34 in Djibouti and Senegal.
Rates also vary widely within countries. In India, for
example, rates range from 20 to 66 per 1000 births in
different states.
It is estimated that 66% − some 1.8 million stillbirths
− occur in just 10 countries: India, Pakistan, Nigeria,
China, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo,