How we have helped

Improving reproductive, maternal and newborn health in the developing world is a major priority for the UK Government. We want to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted and that every birth is safe for both mothers and babies. In doing so, we know that we will also make a significant contribution to reducing child mortality and achieving Millennium Development Goal four.

How we have helped

DFID’s country programmes in 2007/08 trained over 60,000 health professionals; distributed 500 million condoms, preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Our influence contributed to a shift in the Government of India’s reproductive and child health programme, which has increased deliveries at health facilities by 30% in two years, averting 6,600 maternal and 79,000 infant deaths, and our health sector support to Malawi since 2005 has contributed to saving around 1,000 mothers’ and 15,000 children’s lives each year.

We co-hosted a high-level event in the margins of the UN General Assembly in 2009 which resulted in $5.3 billion to improve health services across the developing world being announced. Six developing countries announced expanded access to free healthcare for women and children, which will result in more than 10 million people gaining access to free health services.

Our future work

Moving forward we have a huge opportunity to significantly improve reproductive health and reduce maternal and newborn mortality, and put women at the centre of all our efforts. At the G8 this year in Canada our Prime Minister, David Cameron, worked with Prime Minister Harper and other G8 leaders to ensure the world delivers on its commitments to cut the number of women and babies dying during pregnancy and childbirth in some of the world’s poorest countries.

We are now calling on the world’s political leaders to come to the Millennium Development Goal Summit in September ready to make and deliver ambitious pledges. And, we will be urging them to sign up to the United Nation’s Secretary-General’s Joint Action Plan on women and children’s health.

Case studies from across the world

Read some of the following case studies to find out how we are helping women in some of the poorest areas in the world to improve reproductive, maternal and newborn health issues.

MDGs in focus – MDG 5: Maternal health in Nepal
“It’s all worked very well and I feel safe here.” This is the verdict of Sangita Chaudhary, following the birth of her baby at the newly built Dhakdhai Health Post in a remote, rural area of Nepal.

A safe arrival for India’s newborns
Look at the example of Madhya Pradesh where pregnant women are offered free transport to hospital. Phone numbers for the service are widely displayed, and community workers spread the message about safe deliveries and timely check-ups.

Helping HIV positive mothers have HIV negative children
Zanele Mbatha is one of the 3 million women over the age of 15 living with HIV in South Africa. Find out how South African health clinics are offering hope to expectant mums. Watch a video about preventing HIV transmission between mothers and children.

Training the next generation of midwives in Pakistan
Eighteen-year-old Sumera Daood, from Khairabad village in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, is going places. She is one of 35 students at the newly established, DFID-supported Community Midwifery School in Nowshera District.

How our research is making a difference

Straight Talking to combat HIV among young African women
HIV prevention needs to take a gendered approach which recognises the different needs and circumstances of young men and women – but in order to do this, ways need to be found to encourage girls to talk about difficult subjects.

Initiative for Maternal Mortality Programme Assessment (Immpact) shares evidence
Immpact is a global research initiative, part-funded by DFID, whose aim is to promote better health for mothers-to-be in developing countries.

Why women shun antenatal care
Antenatal care is something most people in the developed world take for granted. But for many in developing countries, social and economic factors, and the lack of accessible facilities, mean that for many women antenatal care is seen as too difficult or expensive to access.

Essential healthcare for newborn babies in Nepal
Refresher training of primary care workers in Nepal has helped transform care for mothers and their newborn infants. Appropriate training and distribution of low-cost equipment has helped to improve care practices both in the community and in government facilities.

Find out more about our work improving child health