Dr Godfrey Mbaruku

US and Tanzania researchers have discovered a new drug to protect women from life-threatening bleeding after childbirth.

The new drug, named Misoprostol was revealed by researchers in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Dr Godfrey Mbaruku, Deputy Director of the Ifakara Health Institute which carried out the research and came up with the drug said the discovery is especially critical for women who deliver, at home due to lack of medical facilities.

The doctors say the drug once administered to expectant mothers, would work even if they delivered at home.

According to Dr Mbaruku the institute embarked on the research after observing that thousands of mothers in Tanzania, especially in the rural areas, were dying every year from post-delivery bleeding.

At least one pregnant woman dies every hour in Tanzania from post delivery bleeding, he said adding: “This is a new drug that can be used by pregnant women without skilled attendance from health centres and dispensaries although it is important to see those experts,” he explained.

“Our preoccupation in this research was to reduce home births which are many in the country and thereby, save mothers’ lives by preventing postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) with the use of misoprostol for home births, especially for those who were unable to reach a health facility to deliver,” said Dr Mbaruku.

He said the new drug are in injection and tablet forms.

Dr Mbaruku said pregnant women who will use Misoprostol tablets to protect them from over bleeding after delivery at home or elsewhere would be safe.

“This drug is easy to use in a single dose and an alternative where injectables are not feasible,” the expert said.

“Community awareness campaigns on birth preparedness and PPH prevention by using Misoprostol tablets has been carried out to more than 12,000 pregnant women in Rufiji, Ulanga, Kilombero, Kigoma Urban and other districts to make them know the advantages and effects of the drug,” Dr Mbaruku said.

He said at least 5,600 pregnant women who managed to reach health centres and dispensaries after obtaining training have been administered with the drug free of charge.

Maternal mortality rate in the country at present is estimated to be 454 per 100,000 births, said the doctor.

For her part, Dr Ndola Prata, Medical and Programmes Director from US based NGOs, Venture Strategies Innovations urged women to use the drug to protect themselves from excessive bleeding after childbirth.

“Once women use it, it reduces blood loss,” she said.

She noted that 90 per cent of women who have tested the drug said it had no identifiable risk factors.

Dr Prata said PPH contributes significantly to maternal mortality, calling on health providers to be trained on its use and effects.

By Beatrice Philemon, The Guardian

Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us to submit@in2eastafrica.net.