Every Mother Matters
We Must Do More to Prevent Pregnancy-Related Deaths, Because Every Mother Matters!
In many countries, tombstones of yesteryear often read: “Died in childbirth.” Today, that’s rarely the case (in high-income countries), a testament to advances in modern healthcare. Unfortunately, maternal mortality is still very real, mainly in low-income countries. Recent global data estimates that every two minutes a mother dies from pregnancy complications. That's equivalent to two loaded 747’s crashing every day. Imagine reading that in the news headline…every morning!
And the ripple effects from losing a mother run deep - the health and well-being of their children, their families, their communities. I think of a mother as the center pole of a tent. The tent falls without that support. One key factor to reduce maternal death could be as simple as bringing life-saving healthcare services to remote areas.
Dr. Cliff Gronseth (NYAGI founder) delivering an in-class session to midwives and birth attendants in Nepal. (Photo Credit: Jason Houston)
Technology is Our Best Ally
I founded the NYAGI Project to harness the power of ultrasound imaging, an easily portable, battery-powered, triage tool to help identify at-risk mothers in low-resource areas. Portable ultrasound (that now fits in your hand!) is like a visual stethoscope. But instead of listening, ultrasound lets you “look” inside the body, in real-time, for signs of danger. Harmless sound waves can produce images of the fetus, uterus, placenta and internal organs, and can help identify other potentially serious medical conditions like COVID pneumonia, bleeding, and fractures. The process of learning how to use ultrasound is the main reason it’s not used more.
Dr. Steve Rotholz (Volunteer trainer) delivering an online session of NYAGI Ultrasound training. (Photo Credit: Jason Houston)
Empower and Scale
The NYAGI Team has created educational tools and a system designed by experts who “train trainers” to empower them with the tools and techniques to teach others. We aim to elevate healthcare by rapidly teaching basic prenatal ultrasound skills (called the “NYAGI 6”) used to identify possible abnormal pregnancies, especially those at risk for complications during childbirth. Basic prenatal ultrasound can give valuable information to healthcare providers to help monitor the growth and development of the fetus, determine the estimated due date, and help to identify pregnant women at risk for complications so they can get timely and appropriate care… before it’s too late.
A Look into the Future
I view ultrasound as a technological crystal ball. This amazing, life-saving technology is cost effective and so portable, yet so underutilized. Why not maximize its benefit, especially for the least fortunate mothers around the world? If most of the mothers dying from pregnancy complications live in rural areas, why can’t we get this powerful technology to the “off-the-road” areas of the world and save lives? Imagine a world where any mother in the world, even in the most remote, forgotten corner, can get access to life-saving ultrasound scanning. Ultrasound triage can help pregnant women receive the right care at the right time, and ultimately improve the efficiency and effectiveness of global healthcare.