Focus of the week – 12- 16 April 2010 – Maternal mortality

A new study published on April 12 2010 in the medical journal The Lancet found that the number of maternal deaths has gone from over 500,000 in 1980 to about 350,000 a significant decrease on a major challenge to health systems worldwide and coined as a Millennium Development Goal. Coincidently enough, a few days later, the United Nations outlined steps for a multifaceted campaign “The Joint Action Plan” to combat maternal mortality worldwide.

• Prog Blog blogging for progress in society 19.04.2010 : When Progress is Political

• UN News Center 15.04.2010 :Investing in women can lead to progress on all development goals, says Migiro

• News.xinhuanet 15.04.2010 : UN chief welcomes Lancet study on deaths during childbirth

• The Los Angeles Times 14.04.2010 : Deaths during childbirth may have dropped sharply worldwide – or maybe not

• The Washington Post 14.04.2010 : Around the world, fewer women die in childbirth

• UN News Center 14.04.2010 : Ban readies multifaceted campaign to combat maternal maternity worldwide

• The Associated Press 13.04.2010 : Politics of aid seen in clash over maternal deaths

• The New York Times 13.04.2010 : Maternal Deaths Decline Sharply Across the Globe

• WHO –  The partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health: 12.04.2010 :Letter from Director Dr Flavia Bustreo : Hope at last : Making every mother and child count

• The Lancet 12.04.2010 : Maternal mortality for 181 countries, 1980—2008: a systematic analysis of progress towards Millennium Development Goal – read the Online Summary or PDF document.