Thirty-eight of 58 countries surveyed may fail to meet their target of 95 percent coverage by skilled attendants by 2015 unless an additional 120,000 midwives are trained, deployed and retained. A new report also indicates that upgrading midwifery services could save more than 3.6 million lives each year by 2015.
The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the worldwide professional association of midwives, is holding their first meeting in Africa this week, in Durban, South Africa. The focus is on ensuring the women of the world have safe pregnancies and increased access to medical services.
Citizen volunteers are at the front lines of a community-driven initiative for saving lives and preserving health for women in Kissidougou.
In a letter sent to international women’s groups, Haitian and Dominican groups working to provide relief are asking for financial or in-kind donations for sanitary supplies and other needs of women and girls.
The impact of repealing the global gag rule will be significant. But repealing the gag rule will not end the longstanding ban on foreign aid for safe abortion care.
Uruguay’s legislature has passed an abortion liberalization law. Will President Tabaré Vasquez ignore widespread unsafe abortion in the country and veto the bill?
Neither Presidential candidate has yet pledged to restore funding to UNFPA. Both should — because when women are healthy, more economically stable and better able to participate in society, society evolves to benefit all of us.
Colombia’s maternal mortality rate has decreased in recent years, due largely to increased prenatal care. But the country still needs to increase the number of births attended by skilled personnel.
A report card on progress made on health at the G8 Summit gave poor marks to the world’s most powerful leaders and maternal health may be faring the worst of all.
Maternal health advocates made more progress than expected at the G8 Summit, gaining critical support from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, host country Japan, and UK’s First Lady Sarah Brown.
