UN AGENCY RUSHES AID TO PREGNANT WOMEN IN CYCLONE-HIT PARTS OF BANGLADESH

UN AGENCY RUSHES AID TO PREGNANT WOMEN IN CYCLONE-HIT PARTS OF BANGLADESH
New York, Dec 4 2007 3:00PM
With some 30,000 babies expected to be born in the coming months in cyclone-hit parts of Bangladesh, the United Nations Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/">UNFPA) today announced plans to help pregnant women there avoid life-threatening delivery complications.

Out of the 6.7 million people affected by the storm which hit in mid-November, 30,000 women are carrying third-trimester pregnancies, the agency said in a news release, warning that almost 4,500 of them "are likely to experience potentially life-threatening complications."

In response, UNFPA is sending reproductive health kits equipped with intravenous fluids and drip sets, antibiotics, pain killers, syringes, sterile gloves and a small sterilizing machine, all to help prevent maternal deaths and disabilities.

The agency is also providing other safe motherhood services to women who come to designated facilities for delivery.
2007-12-04 00:00:00.000

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