19 September 2012

By Susan Moffson

Antananarivo, Madagascar — During a prenatal checkup late in her pregnancy, Holandrie Raharifara was dismayed to learn she had high blood pressure, a sign she may be at risk for a potentially life-threatening condition known as pre-eclampsia. The 33-year-old mother dutifully took the medicine prescribed to control her blood pressure — she lost her first child after a difficult pregnancy and wasn’t going to take any chances this time. A month later, when Holandrie felt her first labor contractions, she headed straight for the Mahambo health center.

To read the full piece—and to learn more about MCHIP’s training of 700 health care providers in Madagascar in the use of magnesium sulfate to treat severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia—click here.