Indicator dynamics under Goal 5 – Improve maternal health

     – improve maternal health – necessitate a change of targets. Maternal mortality of 7.3/100,000 live births in 2005 corresponds to five deaths across Bulgaria. On the other hand, cervical cancer morbidity has been alarmingly increasing, from 16/100,000 in 1990 to 27.7/100,000 in 2002 and 29.4/100,000 in 2006. Every day, three women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and one dies. Therefore, the target for Considerable reduction in maternal mortality should be replaced with a new target, Considerable reduction in cervical cancer morbidity and mortality.

    The ambition will be to reduce new cases of cervical cancer down to 15/100,000 women by 2015. The indicator for Proportion of births assisted by qualified medical personnel should also be considered accomplished.

    In reality that is no longer an issue for Bulgaria. For the newly introduced target – Reduce cervical cancer morbidity – the most necessary step is to launch mass screening. Combined with vaccination, mass screening is the most effective approach for the full eradication of this lethal and disabling disease.