Visiting Profs praised for role in maternal health handbook

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) Maternal and Child Health Handbook Workshop, held at the The Rizqun International Hotel, drew to a close on Thursday, with visiting guests being praised for their role in developing the handbook, which is currently being drafted by the MoH.

Flying in to attend the conference were Yasuhide Nakamura, Professor of International Collaboration, and Akemi Bando, both from Graduate School of Human Sciences at Osaka University in Japan, and Dr Micheal Pike and Dr Claire Burns from John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford, UK.

Guest of honour at the event was Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Salam Abdul Momin, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health.

"For the maternal health record, a small antenatal card that can only record minimal information is given to pregnant women, whereas the more detailed 'big' antenatal card is kept for clinic record. The latter is given to mothers when they are 32 weeks pregnant, in anticipation of delivery in hospital," explained Hjh Maslina Hj Mohsin, Acting Director General of Health Services.

"Integrating these cards and adding additional health information into the one MCH handbook, placed in the hands of mothers themselves is a benefit for mothers and their children and also essential for our healthcare personel in all sectors of service providers.

"The handbook is therefore an important tool not only for recording information but also a key communication tool as well," said the chairperson of the organising committee."

Other guests at the event included MoH Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional and Technical) Datin Paduka Dr Hjh Intan Hj Salleh; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) Hj Rosli Hj Mustafa; and Directory General of Medical Services Dr Hjh Norlila Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Jalil.