The Ministry of Health (MoH) has provided organised and quality maternal healthcare services through 13 health centres and three health clinics easily accessible throughout the country, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar said in his World Health Day celebration message.
Maternal health services are aimed to reduce health problems and maternal mortality rates by providing healthcare to mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth, the minister added.
Beside maternal clinic during pregnancy and after childbirth, postnatal nursing services or home nursing to examine new mothers, health education and women’s health clinics are also provided, he said.
Comprehensive services including providing medicine, important nutritional supplements, vaccination and tests during pregnancy like ultrasound examination is provided free for all mothers in the country, regardless of their nationality – in line with the concept of universal health care, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham added.
The minister added that this is to help ensure that pregnant mothers receive optimal care and are in the best physical and mental health throughout their pregnancy.
He added; “Maternal health services in the country are also constantly updated to ensure that they are based on the latest scientific evidence or evidence-based.
“In November 2024, the MoH introduced the Pertussis vaccine during pregnancy as recommended by the World Health Organization and as an additional strategy to prevent whooping cough in infants who are too young to be vaccinated.
“The Paediatric Healthcare services for age zero to five are also provided through 13 health centres and three health clinics, similar to the Maternal Health Services Division.
“Paediatric Health Services cover various aspects of care, including home nursing visits for newborns, routine developmental and physical assessments for children aged zero to five years, as well as administering childhood vaccines and monitoring childhood immunisation according to the Brunei Darussalam National Immunisation Expansion Programme schedule.”
He added that the programme is very comprehensive and has successfully protected children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham said, “The immunisation coverage rate for all childhood vaccines in the country has remained at a high of over 95 per cent in the past decade, which is in line with the global target of reaching 90 per cent or more.”
The programme in the country is also constantly updated to ensure that it is based on the latest scientific evidence or evidence-based. On February 1, the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) was introduced into the National Immunisation Expansion Programme, demonstrating the government’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of children in the country, and supporting the country’s vision for a healthier future.
‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’ this is the essence of the ongoing efforts to ensure that every citizen and resident of the Sultanate enjoys a healthy and productive life. With cooperation of all parties, government, private sector, community, to health professionals, Insya Allah, we will be able to achieve this goal together, the minister said.
Each individual, he said, “must also be responsible for their own health and that of their family members for the long term. It includes taking care of the health of girls and young women who will become mothers and then taking care of the health of their children proactively. Social responsibility thinking is expected to produce children who are not only healthier individuals, but more productive for our society with a hopeful future”.
The minister said, “Let us continue this effort with enthusiasm and commitment, because health is the foundation of the well-being and prosperity of the country. With the permission of Allah the Almighty, together we will be able to build a healthier and brighter future for generations to come.” – James Kon
