The government has launched its National Strategic Plan for the Reduction of Maternal and Infant Mortality 2012-2016, that seeks to reduce maternal mortality from 106 to 50 per 100,000 pregnancies and infant mortality from 27 to 15.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Public Health, so far this year at least 23 women have died during labor with the main causes being hypertension, 27.6%, hemorrhaging 10%, complications following miscarriage, 7.8% and septicemia 7%.
The Minister of Public Health, Freddy Hidalgo, speaking at the Presidential Palace in the company of President Danilo Medina yesterday Tuesday 12 March, said that the plan also proposes improvements in sexual health policies, increasing preventative measures and the quality of services as well as better access to medical services.
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