Nearly 1,000 women die in childbirth every day around the world. And each day, 22,000 children also perish, mostly from preventable or treatable causes. These heartbreaking and unacceptable facts are addressed in two reports recently released by Save the Children.  
 
The State of the World's Mothers Report 2011 identifies countries lagging in their effort to improve the health of women and children. It compares the well-being of mothers and children around the world, and ranks 164 countries on women’s access to health care, education and opportunities. And while promoting effective, affordable solutions to these health care crises, the report also underscores why investments in the poorest countries are also good for America.
 
In February, Save the Children’s released a separate report—entitled Missing Midwives—that illustrates the vital role of midwives in improving the lives of women and children globally. By addressing the deficit of midwives in the poorest countries, it states that 1.3 million babies could be saved annually. Above all, it stresses the positive impact that continued recruitment, training and retraining of midwives can make in the vital fight to save these lives.
 
This month, in commemoration of Mother’s Day and International Day of the Midwife, please take a moment to read these reports. They bring together the thoughts of leaders in academia, politics, religion, business and the arts on the progress we’ve made, as well as the solutions necessary to further reduce the deaths of women and children under age five.

Authored by:

Jeffrey Smith
Maternal Health Team Lead
MCHIP