Bandar Seri Begawan: Around 50 to 60 years ago, Brunei Darussalam significantly reduced its maternal and child mortality rates. However, statistics indicate that achieving further reductions is challenging, particularly with the rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity among young women of childbearing age. The Minister of Health highlighted this issue in a message marking World Health Day. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar stated that the Ministry of Health provides comprehensive maternal healthcare services through 13 health centres and 13 health clinics nationwide, adhering to the universal health coverage concept.
According to Radio Television Brunei, these services aim to address health issues and reduce the maternal mortality rate by offering healthcare to mothers during pregnancy and postpartum. Additionally, postnatal nursing care services at home, health education, and women's health clinics are available. The government provides comprehensive services, including medication, essential nutritional supplements, and free prenatal tests such as ultrasounds for all pregnant women, irrespective of nationality, aligning with universal health coverage principles.
Child health services for children aged 0-5 are also accessible at 13 health centres and 3 health clinics, such as the Maternal Health Services Division. These services encompass various healthcare aspects, including home nurse visits for newborns, routine developmental and physical assessments for children aged 0-5, vaccination, and monitoring of children's immunisation according to the Brunei Darussalam Expanded Programme on Immunisation.
This year's World Health Day theme, 'Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,' emphasised the importance of initiating a healthy life as a foundation for a brighter future. The theme focused on maternal and infant health during the first month and urged the government and health community to strive towards ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths while prioritising women's long-term health and well-being.