Health - News

Sierra Leone's government launched a major initiative on April 27 to make health care free for pregnant women and children, and I'm just back from a trip to Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital, to find out more about it. The program abolished fees at public hospitals and health clinics across the country for a set of basic health services for all pregnant and nursing mothers, and for every child under five years old.

During the upcoming UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon will announce a new plan for improving the health of women and children in developing countries, he told reporters Monday. Ban will launch a new Global Strategy for Women's and Children' s Health on Sept. 22 at a special event featuring leaders from both private and public sectors.

Though the Indonesian government banned female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) four years ago, experts say religious support for the practice is more fervent than ever, particularly in rural communities.

Pakistan's displaced flood victims say a lack of clean water and high temperatures are causing illnesses sweeping through relief camps with children most at risk.

Meriam Dukumue, like the majority of women in her country, cannot read and write. Having suffered through years of conflict and now the breadwinner of her family, she is giving her children and husband what she never had – an education.

The First lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma has recently explained to the public the rational behind the formation of what were now her very successful projects undertaken in her strides to combat maternal and child morbidity and mortality in Sierra Leone.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has called on a Melbourne conference to do more to "keep the promise" of saving the lives of women and children.

In southern Afghanistan, one woman is making a difference not only for herself but for the health of the people of her country by providing medical treatment to the sick. As a medical assistant, she treats men, women, and children in a clinic in a region where the Taliban hold much influence. Her name is not mentioned for her protection.

The story of the young Afghan woman whose nose and ears were hacked off by the Taliban has faded from the headlines, but Bibi Aisha's road to recovery has only just begun.

According to the Liberia Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS), maternal mortality rates nearly doubled to 994 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2000 and 2007. At the time the survey was released in 2008, Liberia had about 300 midwives when Health Minister, Dr. Walter Gwenigale, estimated the country needs 1,400 midwives. The increase in maternal mortality rate has been partly attributed to the fact that less than half of births are attended to by health professionals. In an effort to address the issue of maternal mortality, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf introduced a strategy called “Reach Every Pregnant Woman”. Besides strengthening clinic and hospitals, the strategy will focus on training traditional midwives in rural areas.