This Programme exclusively outlines the Science Summit events in New York from September 17th to 27th.
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Video will become available 10 minutes before session start
The global commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1 is not just a goal but an urgent imperative. This goal aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030, underscoring the urgency of improving maternal health services, especially in low-income countries. Despite significant progress in medical technologies, maternal mortality rates remain unacceptably high in many regions, mainly where economic disparities limit access to quality healthcare.
One key bottleneck in improving maternal health outcomes is the uneven availability of vital diagnostic tools like ultrasound. While affordable point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) technology has become increasingly accessible, there is a critical gap in the training and certification of healthcare providers, such as midwives, nurses, and clinical officers, to perform obstetric ultrasound screenings competently. The lack of trained personnel to set standards limits the deployment of this life-saving technology. It perpetuates disparities in maternal and child health services across different economic segments.
Objective This roundtable seeks to explore the impact of certifying primary maternal health clinicians in POCUS as a strategic intervention to reduce maternal mortality by 2030 significantly. By equipping healthcare providers in low-resource settings with the skills and certification necessary to perform ultrasounds, we can improve both the quality and accessibility of maternal care. The session provides a case study of the current landscape in Kenya as a template for scalable and sustainable global impact. This includes the urgent need for comprehensive policy shifts, sustainable business modelling, expanding clinicians' practice scopes, and establishing standardized guidelines to ensure patient safety and enhance care delivery.
Discussion Points
1. Addressing Disparities in Maternal Health Services Highlight the unequal distribution of maternal and child health services across different economic segments, particularly in low-income countries. Discuss how the lack of ultrasound proficiency among healthcare providers contributes to maternal mortality and morbidity. 2. Expanding POCUS Training and Certification Explore strategies for expanding point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training and certification among primary maternal health clinicians, including midwives, nurses, and clinical officers. Discuss the importance of training programs that work towards set standards to ensure competency and patient safety. 3. Public-Private Partnerships and Policy Shifts Examine the role of public-private partnerships in supporting local capacity building, economic innovation, and professional development opportunities for healthcare providers. Advocate for comprehensive policy shifts and regulatory frameworks to extend clinicians' practice scope and institutionalise the role of POCUS in maternal care to meet WHO guidelines. 4. Leveraging Advanced Technologies for Equitable Access Discuss how advanced technologies, including AI-driven ultrasound innovations and mobile health platforms, can be leveraged to promote more equitable access to maternal healthcare services across diverse populations. Identify opportunities to integrate these technologies into national health systems to improve outcomes.
Outcome The session aims to foster a multi-stakeholder dialogue and generate actionable insights on how certifying primary maternal health clinicians in POCUS can reduce maternal mortality. Key takeaways will include recommendations for policy shifts, guidelines for certification, and strategies for integrating advanced technologies and partnerships to ensure equitable access to high-quality maternal healthcare by 2030.
Video will become available 10 minutes before session start