Round-Up: Week of May 3rd

Here are some of my favourite reads from the week, focusing on maternal health in honour of Mother’s Day:

• State of the World’s Mothers was released on Tuesday by Save the Children.  The report ranks 160 countries in terms of where it is best and worst to be a mom.  Norway is at the top of the list; Afghanistan last.  This year’s report focuses on the shortage of healthcare workers in developing countries – and advocates for the training of women healthcare workers as a solution to the resource crisis and a way to empower women to become health leaders in communities.  “More than 90 years of experience on the ground have shown us that when mothers have health care, education and economic opportunity, both they and their children have the best chance to survive and thrive.”

• Shari Roan at the LA Times examines the legacy of The Pill, which promised to make motherhood a choice  –perhaps a promise unfulfilled, when considering that 49% of pregnancies in the United States are still unplanned. 

• And Nicholas Kristof, in his Mother’s Day post, lists organizations that are helping mothers lead healthier lives, benefiting the health of their children and communities…I would like to add one more to this list, the organization where I work – mothers2mothers – which is employing 1600 women living positively with HIV as empowered educators in healthcare facilities in 7 countries…