Maternal and Child Health
In the world's poorest countries, mothers risk their lives giving birth and millions of children die each year from treatable, preventable causes such as diarrhea.
The Challenge
Every year, an estimated 358,000 mothers die from pregnancy related causes and 7.6 million children die before their fifth birthday. The vast majority of maternal and child deaths occur in the world's poorest countries. Diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and measles, which are no longer burdens in rich countries, are still the leading cause of child death worldwide. Women in sub-Saharan Africa have a one in 31 chance of dying in childbirth, compared to only one in 4,300 for women in developed regions. Weak health systems are one of the biggest reasons behind this enormous gap. A lack of health care workers, clinics and equipment means many women and children don't have access to basic health services including immunizations and care for expectant mothers.
The Opportunity
Millions of lives could be saved if known technologies were available to mothers and children in the world's poorest countries. If women had access to basic maternal health services, 80% of maternal deaths could be prevented. Many of the solutions are extremely affordable, especially for children. Childhood vaccines are one of the most cost-effective ways to save lives and prevent disease for a lifetime and could help prevent more than 2.5 million deaths each year.
Investing in the health of mothers and children could have a lasting impact in the world's poorest countries. Children who lose their mothers are five times more likely to die in infancy than those who do not. Healthy children, meanwhile, are more likely to attend school and learn better in their classes, which will help them grow up to be productive as adults.
Learn more, read the full Maternal and Child Health Issue Brief...
Related Press Releases
-
AFRICANS MUST HAVE GREATER VOICE AT G20 TABLE
As the G8 Summit in Muskoka wrapped up and expanded to the larger G20 Summit in Toronto, ONE said that while the global economic situation must be addressed at both Summits, the issue of development and the promises made to the world's poorest must not be forgotten. MORE
-
MUSKOKA INITIATIVE FAILS TO DELIVER FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
The much anticipated Muskoka Initiative fails to meet the needs of too many mothers and children in the poorest parts of the world, ONE said at the G8 Summit. MORE
-
G8 AND G20 MUST STEP UP TO SAVE LIVES
In advance of the G8 and G20 Summits in Canada, global anti-poverty group ONE called on leaders to boost momentum towards achieving the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals and agree to a vigorous maternal and child health initiative that includes critical accountability measures. MORE
-
ONE Applauds Gates’ $1.5 Billion Commitment to Maternal and Child Health
ONE welcomed an announcement by Bill & Melinda Gates to commit $1.5 billion toward maternal, newborn and child health. The announcement comes nearly two weeks before G8 leaders will meet in Huntsville, Canada to forge a new maternal and child health initiative aimed at saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of mothers and millions of children. MORE
-
STATEMENT ON BONO’S MEETING TODAY WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA
Bono, U2 lead singer and cofounder of ONE, met today with President Obama and members of his national security staff to discuss the Administration's development strategy heading into the upcoming G8 and G20 meetings in Canada and September's UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals. MORE
-
ONE Calls on G8 to Produce Strong Child & Maternal Health Action Plan
As G8 Development Ministers leave Halifax, Nova Scotia today, ONE called the development meeting "productive but must follow up in June with a clear, tangible action plan to improve child and maternal health." Emphasizing the need for a plan, Canadian ONE member Jana Henderson today personally delivered a petition, signed by 10,191 ONE members, to Development Minster Bev Oda asking for a results-based, time-bound plan come out of this week's meeting. MORE
Quick Facts
7.6 million
number of children under the age of five who die each year, mostly from preventable and treatable causes.
358,000 mothers
die each year due to pregnancy-related causes.
80% of maternal deaths
could be prevented if women had access to basic maternal and health services.
Related Policy Analysis
-
Policy Brief
Pledges for GAVI Alliance -
Policy Brief
Global Fund and GAVI Replenishment in 2010 -
Issue Brief
SMART Aid Success Stories -
DATA Report
DATA Report 2008: Health Chapter