Updates

UK -- The BBC has produced a new multi-series documentary called "Survival" that includes a 45-minute look at maternal health in Bangladesh. To capture the true story, the filmmakers traveled to a remote area in the North East of Bangladesh and filmed the labor of a young woman, Morjina, in her small hut with the aid of traditional birth attendant, or dhai.

Bangladesh is one of the most dangerous places in the world to have a baby, and over 90% of women will give birth at home, most without the help of trained medical staff. The dhais are the most common birth attendant choice for women, and the only equipment they use are a razor blade and a piece of string for cutting and tying the umbilical cord. If there were any complications during birth, such as hemorrhage or obstructed labor, the dhai could do little to help. The film exposes the dangerous conditions in which women give birth in Bangladesh and many of the traditional customs that affect the health of the mother and the newborn child.

Specially edited short versions of the documentaries have been created and are available for free download and use (available in English, French, German and Japanese) as well as factsheets and a series of video podcasts by leading global health experts and political figures. To watch the short version, see below, or click here to watch the full-length film.

One year ago, on October 18-20, nearly 2,000 participants from 115 countries came together to call for increased political will and investment in maternal health. We all agreed: Invest in women – it pays! Activists, global health organizations, governments, and non-governmental groups gathered at this international conference in London to demand action to save the lives of women and newborns.

On Sunday The Washington Post ran a major front page feature, "A Woman's World: The Struggle for Equality Around the Globe," to highlight the grave statistics about women dying in childbirth.

WASHINGTON DC – The US Senate unanimously passed legislation this week that recognizes quality and affordable maternal health care as a basic human right. The legislation, introduced by Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) also calls on the US to make a stronger commitment to reducing maternal mortality both at home and abroad.