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

New data show major setbacks for maternal health in many parts of the world, highlighting stark disparities in healthcare access

23 February 2023
World Health Organization

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, reveals alarming setbacks for women’s health over recent years, as maternal deaths either increased or stagnated in nearly all regions of the world.

“While pregnancy should be a time of immense hope and a positive experience for all women, it is tragically still a shockingly dangerous experience for millions around the world who lack access to high quality, respectful health care,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “These new statistics reveal the urgent need to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services before, during and after childbirth, and that they can fully exercise their reproductive rights.”

Continued: https://www.who.int/news/item/23-02-2023-a-woman-dies-every-two-minutes-due-to-pregnancy-or-childbirth--un-agencies

Pakistan – More investment in family planning programmes stressed

More investment in family planning programmes stressed

Myra Imran
January 31, 2020

Islamabad : Increased investment in family planning programmes could accelerate Pakistan’s progress across social, economic and environmental areas of sustainable development.

This was discussed at a meeting held with media persons on Pakistan’s population challenge, hosted by the Population Council in Islamabad with the support of United Nations Population Fund.

Continued: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/606792-more-investment-in-family-planning-programmes-stressed

Reducing maternal mortality ratio in Nepal still a daunting challenge

Reducing maternal mortality ratio in Nepal still a daunting challenge

Published: September 15, 2019
Sabitri Dhakal

Considering the investment and efforts put in by the government in the field of maternal health, it is unlikely that the government will meet the target of reducing maternal mortality ratio to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals for Nepal, 2016-2030.

According to the National Demographic Health Survey 2016, the maternal mortality ratio for Nepal was 239 per 100,000 live births for the seven year period before the survey. The confidence interval for the 2016 maternal mortality ratio ranges from 134 to 345 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Continued: https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/reducing-maternal-mortality-ratio-in-nepal-still-a-daunting-challenge/

15.09.2019

National Demographic Health Survey 2016

SDGs

Sustainable Development Goals

India – Safe And Legal Abortion: Conceive Choice, Terminate Myths

Safe And Legal Abortion: Conceive Choice, Terminate Myths
The YP Foundation in Health and Life, Sexual Health, Staff Picks

Sept 10, 2019
By Souvik Pyne

Abortion is a word that holds the massive weight of social pressure. Many people also believe that abortion in India is illegal. However, under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (MTP), abortion services can be availed. But despite their being a law in place, it hasn’t been easy for abortion-seekers to access safe and legal abortion services due to the taboo around it.

Safe abortion to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is an important reproductive health need for individuals seeking it of all ages, educational levels, racial and ethnic groups, social and economic classes and religions. The need to make safe abortion services available has also been upheld in many international platforms and intergovernmental agreements on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Continued: https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2019/09/safe-and-legal-abortion-conceive-choice-terminate-myths/

Jamaica – No need to mislead

No need to mislead

Alyssa Nebel & Linnette Vassell
Tuesday, July 10, 2018

In her commentary 'Don't distort abortion conversation, Member of Parliament (MP) Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, published by the Jamaica Observer on July 2, 2108, Phillipa Davies, spokesperson for Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, makes some very misleading statements to justify her organisation's opposition to legalising the termination of pregnancy under specific conditions. She argues that neither the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) nor the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) discuss abortion. This argument stems from a surface reading of the SDGs and what seems to be a shallow understanding of CEDAW. In addition, Davies cherry-picks content from the recommendations of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and consequently presents a one-sided and selective interpretation.

Continued: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/no-need-to-mislead_138002?profile=0