Expert committee on maternal and child health and family planning in the 1990s and beyond: recent trends and advances: World Health Organization Geneva 7–13 December 1993

Abstract

This article provides a description of the World Health Organizations Expert Committee on Maternal and Child Health meeting held in 1993. The last meeting was held before the Alma Ata Declaration on Health For All 18 years ago. The recent meeting aimed to clarify the health and development conditions of women and children worldwide policies impacting on maternal and child health and family planning (MCH/FP) trends and future program directions shortcomings in MCH/FP and strategies for improving MCH/FP through monitoring and evaluation. The committee participants included 10 persons who represented fields in pediatrics public health and obstetrics and other representatives of UN agencies. The International Confederation of Midwives and International Council of Nurses was represented. The objective of the eight-day meeting was to produce a report and recommendations. Recommendations were made to broaden the classic MCH/FP model in order to provide more comprehensive services which are client-determined rather than provider-assigned and to give a variety of services at health care centers. The one stop supermarket approach is desired. This approach requires an appropriate design equipment and staffing of health care centers and a multidisciplinary and multisectoral direction. Attention must be given to adolescent needs to health promotion and protection of the girl child and to policy development that includes an integrated approach. The Expert Committee recommended that womens health issues be combined with family planning HIV/AIDS prevention pregnancy childbirth and perinatal health. The role of the midwife was identified as instrumental in first referral services and as an effective link to the community. The midwife is viewed as providing the role of educator and supervisor of traditional birth attendants and other primary health care workers and volunteers associated with MCH/FP services. Legislation may need to be changed to allow better use of a midwifes skills in reducing maternal mortality and to develop a flexible appropriate community-based approach for continuing and first-level education. The final document includes a listing of available instruments and conventions on the rights of the child and the elimination of discrimination against women.