Maternal Mortality Hits the Headlines

Maternal health has featured prominently in the international press in recent weeks –as we reach the halfway point to the Millennium Development Goals and with major conferences taking place in London and Beijing, are we on track to meet MDG 5 – a 75% reduction in the number of maternal mortalities by 2015? 

As the news digest below demonstrates, without urgent action this goal will not be met. With scant mention of the need for adequate transport the case still needs to be made that mobility is a crucial factor in women’s ability to access healthcare facilities. 

The Mobility and Health networked research programme aims to make this case by bridging the gap between the health and transport sectors - first research findings from the programme have just been released and can be downloaded here.

To read an article recently published in the Millennium Development Goals Review, by IFRTD’s Editor and Communications Coordinator Kate Czuczman, on the integral role transport can play in achieving all the MDGs, please click here.

Maternal Mortality news digest:

BBC
In pictures: Fighting maternal mortality.

BBC
Action needed on maternal deaths.

UNFPA
UNFPA news on a major international conference on women’s health held recently 18-20 October.

Independent
World failing mothers in childbirth as survival rates fall short of 2015 targets.

The Lancet
The Lancet maternal health special edition.

ILO
Women in the workplace: New ILO report highlights how action in the world of work can help reduce maternal deaths.

DfID
Improving healthcare for mothers and pregnant women.