MANILA, July 16, 2024 — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Tuesday the approval of a concessional loan of $100 million aimed at enhancing perinatal health services for pregnant women and their newborns in Uzbekistan.
This initiative is part of ADB’s broader efforts to support maternal and child health improvements in the region.
Despite notable progress over the past decade, maternal mortality in Uzbekistan remains a critical issue. According to the ADB’s press release, maternal mortality decreased from 38 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 30 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. However, this rate is still significantly higher compared to the average for Europe and Central Asia.
“The rate of maternal mortality in Uzbekistan remains high compared to the average for Europe and Central Asia,” stated the ADB. The newly approved project aims to bridge this gap by integrating comprehensive perinatal care across the country.
The integrated perinatal care project will focus on upgrading approximately 230 centers nationwide. These upgrades will include the provision of modern, energy-efficient medical equipment, the adoption of updated clinical standards and protocols, enhanced health staff capacity, and the implementation of quality assurance mechanisms. These improvements are expected to significantly boost the overall quality of maternal and newborn care.
Moreover, the project plans to strengthen the perinatal referral system. This will be achieved by enhancing the capacity of emergency response teams and introducing electronic patient records to better identify health risks and monitor pregnancies from an early stage. The introduction of electronic records is particularly noteworthy as it promises to streamline the management of patient information, thereby ensuring timely and appropriate life-saving care.
The ADB’s initiative also underscores the importance of building healthcare resilience. By modernizing equipment and improving clinical practices, the project will ensure that perinatal centers across Uzbekistan are better prepared to handle emergencies and provide consistent, high-quality care to all patients.
In addition to infrastructure and technology enhancements, the project will focus on training healthcare professionals. Improving health staff capacity is a critical component of the initiative, ensuring that medical personnel are well-equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to provide optimal care for mothers and newborns.
This $100 million loan from the ADB represents a significant investment in the future health and well-being of Uzbekistan’s mothers and children. By addressing both infrastructure and capacity-building needs, the project aims to create a sustainable and effective perinatal care system that can serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges.
As Uzbekistan continues to strive for improvements in maternal and child health, the support from international organizations like the ADB will play a crucial role in achieving these goals. The project’s successful implementation could lead to a marked reduction in maternal mortality rates, bringing them closer to the averages seen in Europe and Central Asia, and ensuring healthier futures for Uzbek families.