Pregnant woman dies of preeclampsia

A young Timorese woman died of preeclampsia. She was pregnant with her first child. Her husband is an Australian man from Queensland. They lived on Atauro Island where the community health clinic is staffed by a lone Cuban doctor. Due to the fierce tropical cyclones, the ferry service was cancelled to the island and there was no way to reach the mainland. She needed to be induced or have a caesarean to save her life. By the time a helicopter arrived, she was dead.

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of illness and death globally for mothers and infants. Up to 30% of all maternal deaths in the developing world are due to preeclampsia.

For every 100,000 births in Timor, 800 women die, one of the highest maternal death rates in the world.

May she rest in peace.

Category: Timor-Leste (East Timor)