Burkina Faso plans to deploy thermostable carbetocin in its health facilities to strengthen the prevention of postpartum hemorrhages. Bags designed to more accurately measure blood loss are also set to be introduced.
The announcement was made during the 9th Regional Days of Gynecology-Obstetrics, which opened on September 24 in Ziniaré. According to the report from LeFaso.net, these meetings bring together gynecologists, doctors, midwives, and other professionals until September 26 to focus on the rapid detection and management of these bleedings.
Carbetocin is a medication administered to help the uterus contract and prevent certain postpartum hemorrhages. Its thermostable formulation is particularly valuable in facilities where the cold chain is difficult to maintain, unlike oxytocin, which must be stored at low temperatures.
The recommendations of the World Health Organization include carbetocin among the uterotonic drugs that can be used to prevent these hemorrhages. However, the WHO regulates its use based on available resources, the quality of oxytocin, and the cost of the different options.
The announced measurement bags should, in turn, allow healthcare personnel to more quickly assess the amount of blood lost after childbirth. Professor Charlemagne Ouédraogo, president of the Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Burkina, also emphasized the mentoring of staff working in peripheral health facilities.
The professionals gathered in Ziniaré now want to transform scientific recommendations into practices applied in the field. The exact schedule for the deployment of carbetocin and measuring bags has not yet been announced.