BETRAKA, December 2012 (IRIN) - Madagascar’s traditional midwives, or ‘matronnes’, are often thought to undermine safe childbirth practices, delivering babies in unsanitary environments and without provisions to manage complications. Yet they are now being recruited to a campaign to get women to deliver in clinics or hospitals, part of a move to lower maternal and newborn death rates. “We have more work than ever,” said matronnes Bertine, 52, and Marnette, 51. The women, who are cousins, … [Read more...]
Syrian Women Cope, ZA’ATARI REFUGEE CAMP
November 14, 2012 by
ZA’ATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Mafreq, Jordan — Syrian women residing in the are trying to cope with life in the fenced area that hosts some 40,000 refugees, by engaging in several activities organized by UNFPA. For Fathieh, participating in these activities helps kill time. “Currently, I train women on weaving and embroidery skills, and I learn other handicrafts,” said the mother of ten. Fathieh noted that she attended workshops about family planning organized by the UNFPA and the Noor Al … [Read more...]
ZAMBIA, actions to meet the Millennium Development Goals
September 25, 2012 by
Identifying good practices that lead to greater equity in reproductive health The UN agencies known as the H4+ support priority countries that take concerted actions to meet the Millennium Development Goals on maternal and child health. UNFPA has identified Zambia as one such country. The following feature shows some of the "Good Practices" the country has undertaken to expand access to reproductive health. When Mabvuto Zulu returned to Zambia after studying medicine in Cuba, he worked … [Read more...]
Ethiopian Fistula Surgeons Train Physicians in Mozambique, Women’s Maternal Health
September 18, 2012 by
BEIRA, Mozambique — Following a successful fistula repair surgery, 25-year-old Esther Joakim Chimoio envisions a better life. Although her husband abandoned her because of her condition, she now has ambitious plans that will allow her to take care of her children on her own. "I want to go back and start my own banana and orange business to support my children. Before I was working in the fields for a woman in my area due to my limited strength because of fistula," she says, beaming. Esther … [Read more...]
UGANDA, “Option B+” prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, (PMTCT)
September 15, 2012 by
KAMPALA, September 2012 (PlusNews) - The government of Uganda has launched the UN World Health Organization's (WHO) "Option B+" to boost the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT). Uganda currently uses a PMTCT system similar to WHO's Option A, which involves single-dose antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for the mother - if her CD4 count, a measure of immune strength, is over 350 - from the 14th week, as well as ARVs during labour, delivery and one week post-partum. Pregnant women … [Read more...]
YEMEN: Women die as violence impedes antenatal care in Abyan
August 25, 2012 by
TAKE ACTION !!! ABYAN, 24 August 2012 (IRIN) - In June, after spending 11 months in a makeshift camp for people displaced by violence, 19-year-old Dawlah Muslih, then seven months pregnant, returned to her home in an area of Yemen where safety was supposed to have improved. It was a move her family would come to regret. Two months ago, the government announced that the militant group Ansar al-Sharia had been routed from the southern Abyan Governorate by a large-scale military offensive. … [Read more...]
MATERNAL POST NATAL CARE, IPHONE APPS (Free) – MOMS ON BED REST
August 17, 2012 by
Nothing frees up your time like being told you have to stay on bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy, and if you don’t have enough distractions you can quickly find yourself bored out of your mind. Of course you can play your favorite games like Words with Friends or Wheel of Fortune, but after a while even those will lose their luster, and you’ll need something else to occupy your hours. Here are 10 iPhone applications that will help take up some time and answer any questions you may … [Read more...]
IRIN, Philippines conditional cash transfer programme
August 3, 2012 by
GOAL #5 - MATERNAL HEALTH Many people consider the day their child was born the happiest day in their life. In the world's wealthier countries, that is. In poorer countries, the day a child born is all too often the day its mother dies. The lifetime risk of dying in pregnancy and childbirth in Africa is 1 in 22, while it is 1 in 120 in Asia and 1 in 7,300 in developed countries. MANILA, August 2012 (IRIN) - A nationwide conditional cash transfer programme in the Philippines is slowly … [Read more...]
World Breastfeeding Week 1–7 August 2012
August 2, 2012 by
World Breastfeeding Week 1–7 August 2012 World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends … [Read more...]
JAKARTA, ‘highest number of pre-term births’
July 11, 2012 by
JAKARTA, July 2012 (IRIN) - Linda Rullis sold her motorcycle and borrowed money from relatives to cover neo-natal treatment for her daughter, who was born after only 24 weeks of pregnancy, barely weeks within the threshold of survival. The baby girl is now one year old and weighs 5.1kg. “I insisted on taking her home after she had been treated for four months because I couldn’t afford the treatment anymore,” Rullis, 30, told IRIN. “When she was born she weighed only 690g, but luckily she … [Read more...]
World Population Day – Celebrated July 11, 2012
July 10, 2012 by
World Population Day 2012: Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services On 11 July – World Population Day – many activities and campaigns will call attention to the essential part that reproductive health plays in creating a just and equitable world. Help us generate greater commitment to the idea that everyone has a right to reproductive health. This year focuses on the theme of “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services.” Reproductive health problems remain the leading … [Read more...]
WHO has just released the second edition of ‘Safe Abortion’
June 29, 2012 by
Second edition of 'Safe Abortion' Since first publication of this guidance in 2003, a considerable amount of new data have been produced and published, relating to epidemiological, clinical, service delivery, legal and human rights aspects of providing safe abortion care. Therefore, preparation for this revision of the guidance included extensive literature review and updating of recommendations related to service delivery, legal and policy issues, and the conduct of new systematic reviews … [Read more...]
