Bringing Hope to the Next Generation

Over half a million expectant or new mothers die every year from pregnancy related causes. In many developing countries these mothers die of treatable and easily curable complications. Pregnant women rely on traditional birth attendants, who lack any training or knowledge in medicine or even basic midwifery.

In East Africa as few as 10% of the women have access to a trained midwife. As they don’t know what a normal pregnancy is like, these women risk their own lives to give birth. When complications arise during childbirth, the women can be hours, or even several days’ journey away from any medical assistance through difficult terrain. This usually leads to either the child or the mother, or both, dying in very painful circumstances.

The UN Millennium goals include two aims to be reached in relation to maternal healthcare by 2015:

• Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio
• Reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five

At the current rate of progress this is not going to even come close to being reached.

• Around the world, one mother dies every minute from pregnancy related complications.
• 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop each year. (W.H.O)
• In the UK, one in about 3800 expectant mothers has a lifetime risk of dying due to the complications of pregnancy or birth. (W.H.O)
• In many parts of Africa and Asia, 1 in 10 will die.(W.H.O)
• A child that loses his mother is less likely to survive. The children that survive are less likely to get basic education.