Each year on April 7th, the world celebrates World Health Day. Around the globe, thousands of events mark the importance of health for productive and happy lives. World Health Day theme of 1998: Safe Motherhood As a Vital Social and Economic Investment  tells exactly the need for a Mother and Childcare center project  we are working on in Ethiopia.

To reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases are among the Millennium Development Goals which all Member States have pledged to meet by the year 2015! 

Why Are Women Dying?
Most maternal deaths could be prevented if women had access to basic medical care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

This implies strengthening health systems and linking communities, health centres and hospitals to provide care when and where women need it.

Most maternal deaths occur either during or shortly after delivery, yet this is the time when women are least likely to receive the health care they need.

Quality health care during and immediately after the critical period of labour and delivery is the single most important intervention for preventing maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity.
Delivery care: Each year, 60 million deliveries take place in which the woman is cared for only by a family member, an untrained
traditional birth attendant – or no one at all. Only 53% of deliveries in developing countries take place with the assistance
of a skilled birth attendant (a doctor or midwife).8 Yet having a skilled health professional at delivery is essential for making  Motherhood safer. A skilled birth attendant can ensure hygiene during labour and delivery, provide safe and non-traumatic care, recognise complications and manage them effectively or refer the woman to a higher level of care.

Download the World-Health-Day-1998-SafeMotherhood.pdf here.