The maternal mortality ratio is unacceptably high in Africa. Forty per cent of all pregnancy-related deaths worldwide occur in Africa. On average, over 7 women die per 1,000 live births. About 22,000 African women die each year from unsafe abortion, reflecting a high unmet need for contraception. Contraceptive use among women in union varies from 50 per cent in the southern sub-region to less than 10 per cent in middle and western Africa" UNFPA
Early and unwanted childbearing, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and pregnancy-related illnesses and deaths account for a significant proportion of the burden of illness experienced by women in Africa. Gender-based violence is an influential factor negatively impacting on the sexual and reproductive health of one in every three women. Many are unable to control decisions to have sex or to negotiate safer sexual practices, placing them at great risk of disease and health complications.
According to UNAIDS, there is an estimated of 22.2 million people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan African in 2009, which represents 68% of the global HIV burden. Women are at higher risk than men to be infected by HIV, their vulnerability remains particulary high in the Sub-Saharan Africa and 76% of all HIV women in the world live in this region.
In almost all countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, the majority of people living with HIV are women, especially girls and women aged between 15-24. Not only are women more likely to become infected, they are more severely affected. Their income is likely to fall if an adult man loses his job and dies. Since formal support to women are very limited, they may have to give up some income-genrating activities or sacrifice school to take care of the sick relatives.
For more information on HIV/AIDS and Reproductive health, please visit the following websites:
Source: UNFPA
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised the involvement of leading businesses in the global effort to tackle women's and children's health.
Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
After just having spent five years in prison for performing an abortion, Sudanese gynecologist Ibrahim Abdulhadi is concerned he will be forced to stop practicing his profession. Abortion is illegal in Sudan.
Source: All Africa
Assistant Minister of Cooperative Development and Marketing Linah Jebii Kilimo has lauded the move by the Parliament to pass the anti-female genital mutilation Bill 2011. She termed the act by the Parliament as a major boost in the fight against the outdated practice.
Source: IRIN
Last year, an estimated two million women around the world developed breast cancer or cancer of the cervix (the neck of the womb); more than 600,000 died – the equivalent of six large passenger planes crashing every single day.
Source: Sunday Times
US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, has hailed Rwanda's strides in fighting HIV/AIDS and decreasing the rates of cervical cancer in the country, as well as its measures against malaria.
Source:UN News Centre
Youngsters in Guinea-Bissau will receive comprehensive sexual education in primary and secondary schools thanks to a United Nations workshop to support efforts by the small West African country’s education ministry.
Source: IRIN News
Most Somali women fleeing to northeastern Kenya's Dadaab in northeastern Kenya have never visited an antenatal clinic, let alone given birth in a hospital.
Source: TrustLaw
Health and education disparities between boys and girls in developing countries tend not to emerge until adolescence, when girls face increased risks of child marriage, HIV/AIDS infection and domestic violence, according to a report from the United Nations’ children’s agency.
Source: Daily Monitor
The United States and British governments have launched a four-year Shs213.5 billion project to increase the use of contraceptive services among Ugandans.
Source: The Citizen
Many tourists visit Tanzania to experience Zanzibar, climb Kilimanjaro, or visit the famous national parks. Tanzania is blessed with a beautiful landscape, friendly and obliging people, and interesting flora and fauna. But the social reality and way of living of some of this country's poorest is a far cry from the glamour of the tourist industry.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
George W. Bush is making the first major foray of his post presidency into global health, with a partnership to combat cervical and breast cancer in the developing world.