Kingdom of Tonga Country Statement on Achieving Zero preventable Maternal Deaths
Commitment description:The Kingdom of Tonga commits to maintaining the goal of zero preventable maternal deaths by 2030. Maternal mortality for Tonga remains low relative to other nations and at certain points we have already reached the target of zero. In spite of that, Tonga is committed to ensuring that the maternal mortality rates are at zero and will be sustained as such until 2030 and onward. Tonga is currently training midwives at the local Queen Salote School of Nursing and Allied Health with the aid of development partners. By mid-2020 we are expecting 20 new midwives to join the existing health workforce and be stationed in various health centers and hospitals which are scattered remotely around Tonga. This is to strengthen Universal Health Care Coverage and attaining the Sustainable Goals on Skilled Birth Attendants and Maternal Mortality.
Mode of engagement:
- Programmatic actionThe delivery of the Advanced Diploma in Midwifery Distribution and positioning of midwives in remote areas
Achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health as a part of universal health coverage (UHC)(3) Zero preventable maternal deaths and maternal morbidities, such as obstetric fistulas, by, inter alia, integrating a comprehensive package of sexual and reproductive health interventions, including access to safe abortion to the full extent of the law, measures for preventing and avoiding unsafe abortions, and for the provision of post-abortion care, into national UHC strategies, policies and programmes, and to protect and ensure all individuals’ right to bodily integrity, autonomy and reproductive rights, and to provide access to essential services in support of these rights.
