TABLE 2.

Summary of Recommendations From Committee Maternal Mortality Suriname Members, Health Care Providers, and Public Health Experts to Strengthen Maternal Death Surveillance and Response in Suriname

Legislation
Ensure no disciplinary/litigation measures Notification of maternal death within 24 hours^a Include pregnancy checkbox on the death certificate^b Timely completion of death certificate Autopsy for maternal deaths of unknown cause
Finances and human resources
Empower BOG by capacity strengthening Support committee MaMS (administrative personnel, logistics) Capacity building of the institutional MDSR focal points Include MDSR in preservice training curricula Involve health care workers and create awareness (bottom-up approach) Involve and educate the community Funding
Enabling policies
Ensure structural facility-based review Install special secretariat for MDSR at BOG/MOH Enable communication and dissemination of findings and recommendations

Abbreviations: BOG, Bureau of Public Health; MaMS, Maternal Mortality Suriname; MDSR, Maternal Death Surveillance and Response; MOH, Ministry of Public Health.
↵a Institutions and funeral agencies were recently requested to report maternal deaths within 24 hours.
↵b As a temporary solution, a pregnancy checkbox slip is attached to the “C form.”