A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth: UN agencies

WHO News HNN Team

This news release is from WHO. New data show major setbacks for maternal health in many parts of the world, highlighting stark disparities in healthcare access Every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest estimates released in a report by United Nations agencies today. This report, Trends in maternal mortality, … Continued

New global targets to prevent maternal deaths (WHO)

WHO News HNN Team

This article was originally published by the World Health Organization.  Access to a ‘continuum of care’ needed, before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth. Today the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNFPA launched five critical targets to help countries get back on track in reducing preventable maternal deaths, and for tracking progress against the Sustainable … Continued

International Women’s Health Organisations Recognise World Patient Safety Day

FIGO HNN Team

This statement was originally published by FIGO, International Federation of Genecology and Obstetrics. FIGO Joint Statement (English, French, Spanish) You can still sign on to this statement as an individual or organisation. Visit this page to make your commitment. Today, our organisations – which represent specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology around the world – come together to … Continued

Caesarean section rates continue to rise, amid growing inequalities in access: WHO

WHO News HNN Team

This article was originally published by the World Health Organization.  Rising rates suggest increasing numbers of medically unnecessary, potentially harmful procedures According to new research from the World Health Organization (WHO), caesarean section use continues to rise globally, now accounting for more than 1 in 5 (21%) of all childbirths. This number is set to continue … Continued

Every woman’s right to a companion of choice during childbirth

HNN Team

WHO strongly recommends supporting women to have a chosen companion during labour and childbirth, including during COVID-19. When a woman has access to trusted emotional, psychological and practical support during labour and childbirth, evidence shows that both her experience of childbirth and her health outcomes can improve. In Companion of choice during labour and childbirth for improved quality of care, … Continued

Coronavirus: Health system overload threatens pregnant women and newborns

HNN Team

This article was originally published by the UN News The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that 116 million babies have been born since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and on Thursday called for governments to maintain lifesaving services for pregnant women and newborns that are under increasing threat from strained health services and supply … Continued

A digital response to help ensure safer childbirths during COVID-19

HNN Team

A new initiative launched today by Maternity Foundation, University of Copenhagen and Laerdal Global Health in collaboration with International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, uses a digital tool to equip midwives in low-resource settings to protect themselves, mothers and newborns from the Coronavirus and to ensure that … Continued

Expansion of the Saving Maternal and Newborn Lives in Refugee Settings Project (Cameroon, Niger, Chad): Summary of Baseline Assessment

Relief Web Cameroon, Chad, Niger HNN Team

Access to quality health services is essential for women and newborns in refugee contexts. In times of conflict, displacement, or humanitarian emergency, neonatal and maternal health is often compromised and the availability of maternal, newborn, and family planning services becomes even more important. In line with UNHCR’s mandate and with support from the Bill and … Continued

Infant Deaths Not One Hospital’s Problem. Here’s Why Infants Continue To Die Across India.

India HNN Team

This article was originally published by IndiaSpend Since December 1, 2019, over 500 infant deaths were reported from just six government hospitals in Rajasthan and Gujarat. In Rajasthan, over 101 infants died in Kota’s JK Lon Hospital, 102 died in Jodhpur’s Umaid and MDM hospitals, and 124 in Bikaner’s Sardar Patel Medical College in the … Continued

Over 900 Infants Died In One Hospital In India In 2019. What Went Wrong?

NPR India HNN Team

This story was originally published by NPR By Kamala Thiagarajan In December 2019 and in the first week of January, 104 infants died in a government-run hospital in Kota, a city in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. And in one 48-hour period in mid-December at the J.K. Lon Maternal and Child Hospital, there were … Continued