Countries taking bold steps to end preventable newborn deaths within a generation; framework for ending maternal mortality released

Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe HNN Team

Countries are taking bold steps to end preventable newborn deaths within a generation. Additionally, a framework for ending maternal mortality has been released.

Africa: ‘No Excuse’ for Newborn Deaths

Nigeria, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, Central African Republic HNN Team

“There has been a fatalistic acceptance from both communities and governments,” Professor Joy Lawn, a Ugandan-born paediatrician at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told AllAfrica in a telephone interview.

Lesotho: Pregnant, positive and on HIV treatment for life

Botswana, Lesotho HNN Team

While Botswana has managed to lower HIV transmission rates from mother to child to as low as 3 percent, Lesotho’s rate remains at an unacceptable 23 percent.

Mother-Baby Pack update: More efforts needed to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Cameroon, Lesotho, Zambia, Kenya

For the last few years, UNICEF has been working with partners on an innovation to address issues related to HIV/AIDS and PMTCT – the Mother-Baby Pack.