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Our View from the Ground: Maternal Mortality—One Woman a Minute

Story from the Front Lines, Part 1

By the time her mother and sister brought her through the doors of Sekou Toure Hospital, 25-year-old Mariam Madoshi was semiconscious and bleeding heavily.
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Story from the Front Lines, Part 2

Without access to medical care in the remote Marra Mountains in war-torn Darfur, Halima saw her baby die in childbirth.
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Video: Every Minute Counts

Share this short video with friends to help them understand why, when it comes to maternal health, Every Minute Counts.

What You Can Do

Honor Dr. Allan Rosenfield, a pioneer in maternal health and former EngenderHealth Board member—make a donation in his memory to help improve maternal health around the world.

Ann Blanc is Director of the Maternal Health Task Force, which is led by EngenderHealth.

What is the contribution of the Maternal Health Task Force to the maternal health field?  

The Maternal Health Task Force exists to provide the first-ever neutral forum where researchers, program implementers, and advocates working in the maternal health field can come together to address one of the most neglected but most crucial areas in global health. The Task Force will identify and fill knowledge gaps, build consensus, engage in dialogue, foster innovation, and share lessons learned. This type of forum has been missing from the maternal health field, and it’s vital for making progress.

Why is it important for groups to collaborate?

Collaboration ensures that information about what works to reduce maternal death and disability is shared across diverse groups, that duplication is minimized, and that everyone is moving in the same direction. Significant public health problems like maternal death can only be solved through collaboration and coordination, and the Task Force will facilitate the exchange of ideas and information in that spirit.

How can anyone interested in these issues get involved?

Readers can visit the Maternal Health Task Force web site at www.maternalhealthtaskforce.org and register to become a member. Members receive our monthly e-newsletter and can stay informed about how the Task Force is making progress on this issue. Over the next several months, we will be launching a new web site that we expect to be a hub of information and exchange on maternal health, so stay tuned!