Maternal health: fifth report of session 2007-08, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, Volume 1Millennium Development Goal 5, which seeks to reduce by three-quarters the level of maternal mortality by 2015, has seen the least progress of all the MDGs. While the DFID deserves credit for the support it offers, major challenges continue to be seen. These include: addressing the huge shortage of midwives worldwide & increasing the availability of emergency obstetric care; and addressing the gender inequalities that prevent women fulfilling their right to health. There is a lack of data with a tendency to under-report maternal deaths and the use of national averages create real uncertainty about the real scale of maternal mortality, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. It has also been estimated that for each woman who dies, 30 further women will become disabled, injured or ill owing to pregnancy. The DFID must prioritise, play to its strengths and support other actors, especially the UN, in playing their part in order for maternal health to receive the urgent political commitment that it deserves. |
Common terms and phrases
abortion achieve action advocacy Africa agencies agreed approach appropriate areas assistance Bangladesh Baroness Vadera believe that DFID birth budget support capacity challenge civil society Committee concerned continue contribution costs countries deaths deliver Department developing countries Development DFID's donors effective efforts emergency encourage ensure estimated evidence example family planning financing focus fragile Fund gender global governments groups health systems human identify implementation importance improve maternal health improved increase initiatives instance International interventions issues lack Lancet maternal health maternal mortality million Nepal obstetric opportunities Paragraph particularly Partnership policies political pregnancy prevent priority programmes progress recommend reduce Report reproductive health responsibility Richard Horton role Safe seek skilled specific staff strategies strengthening successful supplies Thoraya Obaid told UNFPA University violence witnesses women World written evidence