Maternal and neonatal health

Maternal and neonatal health In Africa women run a 1 in 16 risk of dying from pregnancy and childbirth Every minute of every day, a woman dies of pregnancy-related complications. Making a total of nearly 600,000 women each year. While an estimated 40% of the 2 million infant deaths every year are as a result of poor care during pregnancy and delivery. The vast majority of maternal and newborn deaths occur in developing countries. Most of these deaths can be prevented. HLSP is committed to supporting global efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths. We work with a number of development partners to strengthen health systems and to ensure equitable access to essential services by women and their newborn babies, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. The White Ribbon Alliance Catharine Taylor, HLSP’s Lead Specialist in Maternal Health has recently become a board member of the international non-profit organisation the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood› (WRA). WRA is an international coalition of individuals and organisations formed to increase public awareness of the need to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for all women and newborns in developing, as well as, developed countries. The white ribbon is dedicated to the memory of all women who have died in pregnancy and childbirth. WRA currently has members active in 72 countries and has national secretariats in 12 countries. Members are adapting the global actions and messages of the WRA to fit their own settings and developing new methods and techniques to raise awareness and promote safe motherhood within their own families, communities, governments, and countries. For example, in India the WRA is working with the government to promote the extended role of the nurse/midwife to increase access to life saving care for women. more