Basically they have reported that Victoria’s perinatal mortality rate improved from 8.8 per 1000 births in 2017 to 8.6 in 2018, the lowest it has been for 18 years. This means there were 28 less baby deaths.
Enhanced training for specialists, monitoring of foetal (sic) growth issues and community education in a concerted statewide campaign by Safer Care Victoria and #movements matter campaigns are being credited for the result.
The Victorian Health minister Ms Mikakos weighed in with this:
This is the most comprehensive approach to raise awareness of stillbirth risk factors and improve clinical practice and we are only getting started It is remarkable these efforts are already saving lives
It is indeed remarkable but also very unfortunate that the not-for-profit charity StillAware who have been working tirelessly away in Victoria, indeed across Australia has not been “credited” for making any contribution to this drop. This is especially sad because in the years 2014 to present they have delivered:
- Education sessions to more than 1,316 maternity care providers in Victoria
- Consumer Education through mother and baby expos of 28,691 Victorian families
- Overall 886,855 Victorian Consumers reached with their “Your pregnancy brochure and fridge magnet”
I call upon those who are claiming credit for this fantastic reduction in stillbirth to immediately and loudly also attribute credit to the amazing efforts of StillAware, who have undoubtably also contributed to this drop AND without a single cent of assistance from the Victorian or Federal Governments.
As Mikakos says “Together we’re already saving lives and even before we see the data from our more recent efforts, we know that this too is making a difference.”
Yes together we are saving lives and it would be nice for herculean efforts like those made by StillAware to also be recognised