(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman has won the United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) 2014 for Ministry of Health's Omani Nurse-Midwife project in the category of Promoting Gender Responsive Delivery of Public Services.
The UNPSA is the highest level of international recognition in the public service sector. Since 2009 Oman has received ten UN public service awards, particularly in the health sector. The 2014 prize will be awarded at a ceremony in Seoul, South Korea between June 23 and June 26.
The project focuses on work in the mother and child healthcare systems, Al Shifa Patient Healthcare system, and the Antenatal Care system in providing high quality care to patients.
Dr Majid al Maqbali, director of nursing and midwifery affairs in MoH, said, ''We are very delighted that the Omani Nurse-Midwife Project won first place in the prestigious international UN Public Service Award for promoting gender-responsive delivery of public services. Winning this award is testimony to the diligence and perseverance of Omani nurses-midwives who are working hard in ensuring good maternal health of Omani women.
''This initiative promotes gender equality in the delivery of public services, especially to women. Maternity services have now been extended from antenatal, labour and delivery to post-natal care.''
The integrated maternal care services and the Omani Nurses-Midwives project successfully contributed to the reduction of maternal mortality during childbirth from 27.3 (per 100,000 live births) in 1991 to 15.9 in 2011, which represents a reduction of more than 42 per cent, and the infant mortality rate from 29 (per 1,000 live births) in 1990 to 9.5 in 2011, which is about more than 67 per cent reduction.
Antenatal care services are offered in all parent institutions when pregnancy is confirmed and today, hospital deliveries represent more than 99 per cent of the total as compared to about 80 per cent in 2006.
Established in 2000, the UNPSA is offered and rewarded for the achievements and contributions of innovative public service institutions.
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