Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso recorded, between 2010 and 2021, a reduction in maternal and perinatal deaths and a drop in the fertility index, going from 129 to 48 deaths per 1000 live births for children under 5 years, from 28 to 18 per 1000 for neonatal and 341 to 154 per 100 thousand for maternal mortality, indicated the report of the Council of Ministers this Wednesday.Burkina Faso recorded a drop in the under-5 mortality rate which fell from 129 to 48 deaths per 1,000 live births, indicates the report of the council of ministers this Wednesday.According to the same source, neonatal mortality increased from 28 to 18 deaths per 1000 live births and the maternal mortality rate increased from 341 to 154 deaths per 100 thousand mothers.The document also specifies that the total fertility rate increased from 6 to 4.9 children per woman.The report also estimates that 87.4% of pregnant women gave birth in health facilities in 2021, compared to 66% in 2010.Burkina Faso began the process of monitoring matern al and neonatal deaths and the response in 2011. Since the fifth week of 2022, this monitoring has included stillbirths according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization.To meet the challenge, Burkina Faso has made a lot of progress and this has been reinforced by the implementation of free healthcare and family planning which made it possible to achieve these results from 2010 to 2021.However, the government believes that Burkina Faso has not yet achieved the objectives in terms of benefits, access to essential health care in general and obstetric, prenatal and neonatal services in particular.Therefore, the government is considering the implementation of several strategies to achieve a rapid reduction in maternal and perinatal mortality.These include the activation of the Health Emergency Response Operations Center (CORUS) with the establishment of an incident management system for the monitoring of maternal and perinatal deaths and the response as well as the appointment of an incide nt manager.It also envisages the adequate management of obstetric complications and perinatal pathologies and the acquisition and distribution of vital products for the health of mothers and children, reagents, consumables and medico-technical materials.Source: Burkina Information Agency