The Issue
Invest in Women - it pays!
Too many women and newborns are dying worldwide during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Every minute of every day, a woman dies needlessly of pregnancy-related causes. That means that more than 560,000 women and girls die every year. Almost all of these deaths (99%) occur in the developing world.
- Ten million women are lost in every generation.
- Four million newborn babies die every year, also from causes that are mainly preventable and typically linked to the mother's health.
- Huge disparities exist between rich and poor countries, and between the rich and poor in all countries.
- One in eight Afghan women will die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and one in seven in Niger.
- One in 4,800 women will die of these causes in the United States, and one in 17,400 in Sweden.
The reason? Lack of political will and inadequate financial investment. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We know what to do to save these lives.
- Why Women Die? Learn about the five causes that account for ¾ of maternal deaths.
- How to Prevent These Deaths? Learn about the three core strategies for improving maternal and newborn health.
- What Does it Cost? Learn about the global price tag to save women.
