The results obtained by Malta in its fight to curb infant mortality rates are to be commended.

A Unicef report recently indicated that Malta had registered the most progress among industrialised countries, achieving an 8.6 per cent improvement. Only two mothers have died during or after childbirth in the last five years and, although our hearts go to the families concerned, it must be said that the number is extremely low considering that every birth of a child is a risk for the mother and the baby.

At a press conference on World Health Day, Health Minister Louis Deguara outlined the World Health Organisation’s efforts to create more awareness “about the illness, suffering and deaths of mothers and children and the impact that this has on the health of individuals as well as social and economic development”.

Fortunately, Malta does not encounter the difficulties under-developed countries do. There, many more mothers and children die during childbirth, and this is because their health services are not up to standard. Thankfully, although many of us sometimes do complain about the efficiency of our hospitals and clinics, especially at the Casualty Department, the health services offered continue to improve.

They are not perfect and, as Dr Deguara said, there is still more to do. Each and every single life is important, and this is why every effort should be made to see that the services provided get better.

Several initiatives have been taken to make mothers-to-be more aware of the pre- and post-natal problems that can arise. Publications issued give as much information as possible about childbirth, while services connected to this particular sector of our well-being were introduced or upgraded.

Naturally, apart from giving great attention to the physical aspects of childbirth, consideration must be given to the psychological impact of what should be a wonderful experience. Post-natal depression is a condition that has adverse effects on both mother and baby – not to mention the rest of the family – and therefore women should be given all the necessary support in this regard.

Malta should also be proud of providing vaccination services against several illnesses which unfortunately cause many deaths among children elsewhere. All children are vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis and hepatitis B, a service that succeeds in reducing, if not eliminating, risks of early deaths.

In his press conference, Dr Deguara also touched on overcrowding at St Luke’s Hospital, which was more acute this year because the coldest period of the year – which is normally associated with a higher number of illnesses – lasted longer than usual.

Our problem is compounded by the fact that Malta has only one public hospital, and therefore people cannot be transferred from one hospital to another as happens abroad. Overcrowding difficulties unfortunately also lead to the postponing of non-urgent surgery, a measure that is common in other countries in spite of the fact that they have more facilities.

The completion of the Mater Dei Hospital in Tal-Qroqq will hopefully mitigate or, better still, eliminate the overcrowding issue and problems associated with it. The complex being built will be much bigger than St Luke’s and it can therefore accommodate more patients.

This would also mean that there would be fewer possibilities that non-urgent surgery would have to be postponed.

Until the project is finished – the government has set a July 2007 deadline – the authorities must see that overcrowding problems at St Luke’s Hospital are managed in the best way possible and with the least inconvenience to patients. A hospital stay is a trauma for everyone who has been there and this should not be exacerbated by space limitations.