Reduction in mortality needs a bit more than the science of perinatology

The absence or non-availability of medical centers with inaccessible distance and delay in providing treatment is an insurmountable problem in backward regions. A pregnant mother from a developing country is 30 times more likely to die than a mother from a developed country and her newborn faces the same risk of mortality. The involvement of government is a vital part of the attempt to achieve improvements. Government has the power and obstetricians have the information to lead the way. No doubt even when the two cooperate there is still room for inadequacy, but perhaps partners like the WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, IPPF, FIGO, World Bank, World Association of Perinatal Medicine, World Pediatric Association, International Midwives Confederation, etc. can help to achieve targets. There is urgent need for the twinning of the perinatal departments of developing countries with the perinatal departments of advanced countries and/or the twinning of countries or geographical areas, or of NGOs with government and change in mindsets where required. To obtain the maximum benefits from such an approach, it would be necessary to go a little beyond perinatal science.