crisis countries key to saving mothers' lives

26th October 2009: As global ministers meet today to come up with a new Call to Action on maternal health, aid agency Merlin advocates that urgent investment in midwives in crisis countries is key to achieving the Millennium Development Goal for maternal health.

Core Facts

In crisis countries more women are dying during pregnancy and childbirth than ever before. A third of all maternal deaths and 50 per cent of child mortality happens here. Yet 75 per cent of mothers could be saved if only they had access to a trained midwife. Without urgent investment in health workers in crisis countries there's little hope of achieving the global maternal health targets.

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Quotes

'Countries in crisis can no longer be sidelined simply because theyre challenging. These countries carry the greatest burden of death and disease yet have the fewest skilled health workers. We must channel aid into training health workers in the countries where most women and children die to have any real impact on global health.

Linda Doull, Director of Health and Policy at Merlin

'As maternal mortality increases in crisis countries, the number of midwives graduating and working in Ethiopia is going down. No woman should have to die giving life. We need more health workers to allow women in Ethiopias remote communities one of the most basic health rights - access to a midwife who can provide life-saving care.

Dr Tewodros GebreMichael, Merlins Country Health Director in Ethiopia