Maternal

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Financial crisis must not diminish support to improve women’s lives, urges Ban

8 October 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed the importance of continued support for the efforts of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to empower the world’s women, particularly to improve maternal health and promote gender equality, even in the midst of the economic woes countries are currently facing.
Young mother in Baran Hospital, Rajasthan, India (file photo)

UNICEF highlights new tool to analyze high maternal mortality rates in India

7 October 2008
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is spotlighting the introduction of a new tool in India that is designed to help health-care experts, policymakers and local communities across the country understand the root causes of its high rates of maternal mortality.
A midwife examines a pregnant woman at a clinic

Nearly all maternal deaths occur in developing countries, UNICEF report finds

19 September 2008
Over 500,000 women die unnecessarily every year due to complications from pregnancy and childbirth, with 99 per cent of those deaths occurring in developing countries, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Investing in midwives crucial to improving maternal health, stresses UN official

5 May 2008
Paying tribute to the work of midwives in saving the lives of women around the world, the head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for greater investments to train these critical health workers and get them into the communities that need them.
A midwife examines a pregnant woman at a clinic

UN appeals for nearly $500 million to slash maternal deaths in 75 nations

14 February 2008
With a women dying every minute due to pregnancy or childbirth complications, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today appealed for nearly half a billion dollars to save the lives of millions of women in 75 countries.