Fewer maternal and child deaths
Accountability is crucial
The Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health has generated more than $40 billion in commitments for maternal, newborn and child health. An update on the implementation of these commitments is expected from The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health in September of this year.
“That money could make a big difference, if it is really delivered and used where it will have the greatest impact,” says Peter Berman, PhD, of Harvard School of Public Health, who leads the Countdown group that tracks how and where money is spent for women’s and children’s health.
It is still essential to maintain and try to increase current funding, according to Dr. Berman. The Countdown report shows that funding from official aid sources has increased steadily, but that increase started to slow with the global economic downturn.
The Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011
It’s more dangerous to give birth in the United States than in 49 other countries. African-American women are at almost four times greater risk than Caucasian women. A safe pregnancy is a human right for every woman regardless of race or income.
The Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 would establish accountability, fight maternal health disparities, and combat severe maternal complications. Urge your representative to co-sponsor the bill!
Maternal mortality ratios have increased from 6.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 to 13.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2006. While some of the recorded increase is due to improved data collection, the fact remains that maternal mortality ratios have risen significantly.
The USA spends more than any other country on health care, and more on maternal health than any other type of hospital care. Despite this, women in the USA have a higher risk of dying of pregnancy-related complications than those in 49 other countries, including Kuwait, Bulgaria, and South Korea.
African-American women are nearly four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women. These rates and disparities have not improved in more than 20 years.
“Meeting the Millennium Goals will take more money, better programs, and better use of existing money,” says Dr. Berman. “We need to pay more attention to how we use what we have. We need to ensure that both donor and developing countries allocate the additional funds that are needed to save women’s and children’s lives.”
“In the last two years, we have seen real change,” Dr. Bhutta says. “It is possible that in the next three years, by the end of 2015, we could see many more countries achieving their goals for maternal and child survival, if we concentrate on the strategies that will have the greatest impact. This race against time is not about politics, or money,” he says. “It is about saving lives.”
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Marshall Hoffman
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Hoffman & Hoffman Worldwide