Thailand up 8 places on list of best places for a mother

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Thailand up 8 places on list of best places for a mother
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND ROSE eight spots on Save the Children's 2015 Mothers' Index, climbing to 72 out of 178 countries. However, it still lags behind regional nations like Singapore, Malaysia and China.

In its 15th edition, the index is part of the children's aid agency's annual State of the World's Mothers report, showing who are succeeding - and who are failing - in saving and improving the lives of mothers and their children.

Overall, Finland was ranked the best place to be a mother for the second straight year and Somalia came in last.

In Thailand, maternal mortality has been cut by over one-third, child mortality has decreased by 40 per cent, the expected years of schooling increased by 2.5 years and gross national income per capita has risen 265 per cent over the past 15 years.

"Thailand has done well on the index, with significant cuts in maternal and child mortality, as well as improvements in education. This is a result of strong political will and willingness to invest in universal healthcare, amongst other essential services for children," said Allison Zelkowitz, country director for Save the Children in Thailand.

This year's State of the World's Mothers report focuses on mothers in humanitarian crises, in order to better understand and respond to their needs. In addition to their own vulnerability to poverty, malnutrition, sexual violence, unplanned pregnancy and unassisted childbirth, mothers in humanitarian crises suffer wide ranging obstacles to keep their children healthy.

A related concern in Thailand is the extremely low breastfeeding rates, at just 15 per cent, despite the overwhelming benefits of the practice. Breastfeeding provides a complete form of nutrition, building children’s immune systems and protecting them against diarrhoea, malnutrition and other illnesses common in the aftermath of disasters.

"Family-planning services should be prioritised in the aftermath of any disaster. Already, Thailand has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Southeast Asia, at 54 per 1,000 live births. It causes girls to seek illegal abortions, which are extremely risky for them. Teenage mothers are also twice as likely to die in childbirth as mothers in their twenties," added Zelkowitz.

To protect mothers and children in the aftermath of disasters, Save the Children is calling upon states and civil society to:

l Ensure every mother and newborn living in crisis has access to high quality health care, including family planning services, and breastfeeding counselling.

l Build the resilience of health systems to minimise the damaging effects of crises on health.

l Develop national and local preparedness plans tailored to respond to the specific needs of mothers, children and babies in emergencies.

l Ensure adequate financing and coordination to timely respond to mothers and children's needs in emergencies.


-- The Nation 2014-05-08

[Pimay1]

A related concern in Thailand is the extremely low breastfeeding rates, at just 15 per cent, despite the overwhelming benefits of the practice.

I'm quite surprised by this statistic and find it hard to believe. Here in Esaan a mother not breastfeeding her newborn is a rarity.

[ChrisY1]

Young mothers want to keep their "shape"........

[Emilp]

They don't know the helpful of breastfeeding.

[Tokay]

Must also top the list for countries where the girls have the babies and pass them along to the grand parents to raise. Never seen anything like it.

[Morakot]

Thailand up 8 places on list of best places for a mother The Nation

How to spin a not so good story.

[JeremyBowskill]

Must also top the list for countries where the girls have the babies and pass them along to the grand parents to raise. Never seen anything like it.

Couldn't agree more, out of control innit! Might also account for the low breast feeding stats, not even grandad would wanna suck on them most likely......

[jaltsc]

The headline probably should read: "No improvement in Thailand as 8 other Countries fall down the list."

"Must also top the list for countries where the girls have the babies and pass them along to the grand parents to raise."

How about holding the sperm donors financially responsible for the children they helped create? Perhaps if the government of what is purported to be a 'civil society' would create and enforce legislation to make both parents take financial responsibility for their children, then the government would "Ensure adequate financing and coordination to timely respond to mothers and children's needs in emergencies" without having to use public funds. This would go a long way "To protect mothers and children in the aftermath of disasters..." In this case the disaster of making the ongoing mistake of hooking up with another immature and irresponsible male and left alone to fend for herself and the child.

Of course, that would put a crimp in the lifestyles of many legislators and other men who believe they are entitled to spread their seeds with no responsibility for the results. Plus, it would require education...I am sure you get the picture.

Edited May 8, 2014 by jaltsc

[KIWIBATCH]

"Thailand has done well on the index, with significant cuts in maternal and child mortality, as well as improvements in education. This is a result of strong political will and willingness to invest in universal healthcare, amongst other essential services for children," said Allison Zelkowitz, country director for Save the Children in Thailand.

Absolute BS....improvements in education??....strong political will????......and the gem " invest in universal healthcare amongst other essential services for children"

So Allison...

.....explain to me why a newborn baby was left to die by hospital/nursing staff in a hospital in Bang Khae some months ago......"because her parents didn't have the money to pay for some additional specialist services required as the baby had life threatening problems at birth" (it was not the parents decision to let the child die...they wanted her to live)

Can you also answer the following questions......(multi choice answers below each question)

1. Why is Thailand still so high up on the list child trafficking index...........

a. Don't know b. Don't care c. Because of Thailands strong political will.

2. Why is Thailands teenage pregnancy rate amongst the highest in the world. (Avoiding the pregnancy in the first place "Saves the Children" right?)

a. Don't know b.Don't care c. Because of Thailands investment in universal healthcare

3. Why is STC (just today) calling for 4 key points to be undertaken to protect mothers and children "in the aftermath of disasters" (aftermath ?)

a. Because I forgot to mention it before c. Don't know d. It looks good in the media

4. Why protect mothers and children "in the aftermath of disasters"...shouldn't this be before - during- and after ?

a. Don't know c. Maybe c. Yes

[Payboy]

Hub of MILFs ?

[empireboy]

Yup! I'm sure there are plenty of options for a potentially damning answer d. in the list of answers too...

Education is the only lasting solution in my view.

"Thailand has done well on the index, with significant cuts in maternal and child mortality, as well as improvements in education. This is a result of strong political will and willingness to invest in universal healthcare, amongst other essential services for children," said Allison Zelkowitz, country director for Save the Children in Thailand.

Absolute BS....improvements in education??....strong political will????......and the gem " invest in universal healthcare amongst other essential services for children"

So Allison...

.....explain to me why a newborn baby was left to die by hospital/nursing staff in a hospital in Bang Khae some months ago......"because her parents didn't have the money to pay for some additional specialist services required as the baby had life threatening problems at birth" (it was not the parents decision to let the child die...they wanted her to live)

Can you also answer the following questions......(multi choice answers below each question)

1. Why is Thailand still so high up on the list child trafficking index...........

a. Don't know b. Don't care c. Because of Thailands strong political will.

2. Why is Thailands teenage pregnancy rate amongst the highest in the world. (Avoiding the pregnancy in the first place "Saves the Children" right?)

a. Don't know b.Don't care c. Because of Thailands investment in universal healthcare

3. Why is STC (just today) calling for 4 key points to be undertaken to protect mothers and children "in the aftermath of disasters" (aftermath ?)

a. Because I forgot to mention it before c. Don't know d. It looks good in the media

4. Why protect mothers and children "in the aftermath of disasters"...shouldn't this be before - during- and after ?

a. Don't know c. Maybe c. Yes

[BudRight]

"Thailand has done well on the index, with significant cuts in maternal and child mortality, as well as improvements in education. This is a result of strong political will and willingness to invest in universal healthcare, amongst other essential services for children," said Allison Zelkowitz, country director for Save the Children in Thailand.

Absolute BS....improvements in education??....strong political will????......and the gem " invest in universal healthcare amongst other essential services for children"

So Allison...

.....explain to me why a newborn baby was left to die by hospital/nursing staff in a hospital in Bang Khae some months ago......"because her parents didn't have the money to pay for some additional specialist services required as the baby had life threatening problems at birth" (it was not the parents decision to let the child die...they wanted her to live)

Can you also answer the following questions......(multi choice answers below each question)

1. Why is Thailand still so high up on the list child trafficking index...........

a. Don't know b. Don't care c. Because of Thailands strong political will.

2. Why is Thailands teenage pregnancy rate amongst the highest in the world. (Avoiding the pregnancy in the first place "Saves the Children" right?)

a. Don't know b.Don't care c. Because of Thailands investment in universal healthcare

3. Why is STC (just today) calling for 4 key points to be undertaken to protect mothers and children "in the aftermath of disasters" (aftermath ?)

a. Because I forgot to mention it before c. Don't know d. It looks good in the media

4. Why protect mothers and children "in the aftermath of disasters"...shouldn't this be before - during- and after ?

a. Don't know c. Maybe c. Yes

If that's the hospital I'm thinking of, it doesn't surprise me a bit.