A new report on women and children has stated that “more than 350 000 women die each year in the developing world from complications of childbirth and pregnancy. As many as 2.6 million babies are stillborn annually, and 3 million of the more than 8 million children under five who die each year succumb in the first month of life.” The report shows how in many low- and middle-income countries, the heath care sector continues to fall short when it comes to safeguarding women and children’s health.
Last September, Every Woman, Every Child was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Summit. Every Woman, Every Child was established with the goal to save the lives of 16 million women and children by 2015, in conjunction with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Created to urge governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector, and civil society to address the major health challenges facing women and children around the world. The effort puts into action the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, which presents a road-map on how to enhance financing, strengthen policy and improve service on the ground for the most vulnerable women and children.
This year, on its one year anniversary, the Every Woman, Every Child report for 2011 was released, and in the report there were 5 innovative approaches that could serve as models for countries struggling with high maternal and infant mortality: self-contained “aid pods” that can fit into unused crate space when beverage supplies are distributed; training in reproductive health, nutrition and infectious disease for female employees at factories; a 10-week program of text messages reminding mothers to remember health appointments and give medication; a chain of hospitals for women who earn about between $3 to $6 a day that provides a discounted all-inclusive maternal care package; and a public-private partnership that uses text messages, along with a data system, to chart stocks of malaria medication to avoid fatal shortages. PBS gives a great summary of these programs.
“Many of the ideas have come up from local entrepreneurs,” Dr. Tore Godal, special adviser to the Norwegian prime minister and co- author of the report, told IPS. “A large number of innovations are based on public and private sector cooperation, creating a potential for reducing maternal and child mortality.” (Inter Press Service).
The report illustrates that the most effective initiatives to improve women’s and children’s health are those that are modified to the specific local communities and country conditions, while also following a clearly defined model, based on the identification of an intervention or product’s added value, beneficiaries/buyers, distribution channels; resource needs; organizational format and long-term viability.
