News

New Report on Maternal Morbidity

May 14th, 2009

Maternal morbidity is an issue that sometimes gets left off the table when it comes to discussing and advocating for maternal health. Sometimes we focus so strongly on maternal deaths, and rightly so, but there needs to be an equal focus on maternal morbidity -- something that leaves an estimated 10 - 20 million women and girls every year with long-term physical, psychological, social and economic problems.  Many of these women are abandoned, ostracized, and alone. Last week, the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health launched its Maternal Morbidity Hearing Report, entitled Better Off Dead?  in the House of Commons with White Ribbon Alliance's Patron Sarah Brown and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador Geri Halliwell. The report recommends:

  • 10 percent of Official Development Aid to be spent on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights;  
  • child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation to be outlawed;  
  • abortion decriminalized;  
  • legislation that criminalizes transmission of HIV to be prevented or reversed;  
  • family planning and clean and safe deliveries accessible to all;   
  • equitable health care by removing financial barriers especially for the poor, the young, the marginalized including people in conflict;  
  • expansion and registration of health workers with appropriate 'task shifts' and improved codes of practice, standards, guidelines and protocols; 
  • improved maternal health data collection; and  
  • country league tables published on maternal health to 'name and shame' those countries making insufficient progress.

    • Read the full report here.

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    tags: maternal health, reproductive health, maternal mortality, mdg 5, advocacy, family planning, fistula

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