In the year 2000, Dr. Sayeba Akhter, then Chair of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), witnessed a tragic pattern: postpartum hemorrhage was the leading cause of maternal deaths in Bangladesh, accounting for nearly 31% of maternal fatalities. Many women lost not only their lives but also their fertility—because surgeons had to remove the uterus to stop the bleeding.
Driven by heartbreak and determination after watching two mothers die in front of her, Dr. Sayeba conceived a radical idea: could the same pressure from a blown‑up balloon stop internal bleeding, as it does on an external wound?
The next day, instead of a hysterectomy, she assembled a makeshift uterine tamponade: a condom tied to a catheter, inflated with saline solution to create internal pressure and halt bleeding within 10 minutes.
What Is “Sayeba’s Method”?
- Materials: condom, catheter, string, saline set, sterile saline (costing just Tk100)
- Procedure: Attach condom to catheter, insert into uterus, slowly inflate with saline
- Mechanism: Internal pressure compresses bleeding vessels, much like pressing on a wound
Dr. Sayeba methodically applied this technique to 23 other women—all recovered—and went on to publish her findings in international medical journals.
Global Impact
Known globally as “Sayeba’s Method,” this low-cost solution has saved millions of mothers in countries such as Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka—and even Canada. Despite its global adoption, the method has sometimes been mistakenly credited to others—for instance, a Kenyan midwife—prompting experts to call out the misattribution and underscore Dr. Sayeba’s pioneering role.
Why It Matters
- Extremely low-cost: about Tk100 (~99¢), making it accessible to the most resource-constrained rural clinics
- Immediate lifesaving impact: cuts maternal deaths from hemorrhage by a staggering margin
- Simple & scalable: requires no special infrastructure—materials are common and staff training minimal
- Preserves fertility: avoids invasive surgery, allowing women to bear more children if they wish
The Woman Behind the Invention
Dr. Sayeba Akhter, born in 1953 in Chittagong, earned her medical degree at Chittagong Medical College. She went on to lead major surgical and training initiatives in maternal health. In recognition of her work, she was awarded Bangladesh’s prestigious Ekushey Padak in 2020 for her contributions to medicine.
Even today, she continues to travel internationally—most recently training medical professionals in Indonesia—to share her life-changing method and empower healthcare workers worldwide.
📝 In Summary
- Postpartum hemorrhage once caused nearly one-third of maternal deaths in Bangladesh.
- Dr. Sayeba invented a simple, cheap balloon‑tamponade method, costing under $1.
- The method stops bleeding within minutes and preserves women’s health and fertility.
- It has been published in international medical journals and adopted globally.
- Dr. Sayeba has brought her method to countless clinics and communities, saving lives and inspiring hope.
Thought Might celebrates the power of simple, compassionate innovation. Dr. Sayeba’s journey is a beacon of how grassroots thinking can transform global maternal health—not through complex tech, but through empathy, creativity, and a deep commitment to human dignity.
