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: Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
INFANT mortality has sharply dropped in Moshi Municipality, from 160 in 2006 to 18 last year per 1,000 live births, a decline of 142 deaths.
Source: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation (Washington, DC)
Foundation Ambassador Florence Ngobeni — Foundation Ambassador Florence Ngobeni-Allen wrote this piece on her story and her role in the fight for an AIDS-free generation for the Huffington Post.
Source: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation (Washington, DC)
Foundation President and CEO Chip Lyons wrote about the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS and how close we are to achieving the end of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and the creation of an AIDS-free generation.
Source: The Namibian
A total of 14 girls aged between 14 and 18 years fell pregnant at Bethanie village in the South between January 2012 and January 2013.
Source: Heritage (Monrovia)
A United Kingdom (UK) based Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, working with the Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Dr. Matt Prior, has asserted that pregnant women in Liberia have a 25% chance of dying at child birth. Dr Prior, while recently visiting Liberia averred that pregnant women in the country had a 25 per cent chance of dying in childbirth,
Source: The New Dawn (Monrovia)
Emergency-care training for Liberian midwives and nurses has ended at the headquarters of the Bong County Health Team in Suakoko, Bong County. The training was organized by the Maternal and Child-health Advocacy International, a medical organization based in Scotland.
Source: IRIN
Boosting women's access to reproductive healthcare could significantly reduce both the number of unsafe abortions and the high cost of post-abortion medical care in Uganda, experts say.
Source: The Star
Maternal Health Care Royal Gardens Hospital has partnered with religious leaders to enhance safe motherhood and reach vulnerable mothers across all economic divides. The hospital hopes to raise cash from donors to subsidize maternity charges to increase hospital deliveries.
Source: Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
Morogoro — PREGNANT women have been urged to eat healthy food to protect their unborn babies from disabilities.
The call was made over the weekend by American doctors, who are providing free medical services to people with disabilities in Morogoro Region, and said other disabilities are caused by lack of nutrients during pregnancy.
Source: Vanguard
Health issues concerning women and girls will be on the front burner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as from May 28-30.
Source: The New Vision
The story of Allen Bonabana, the mother who died after giving birth quadruplets in Kibaale district, is still fresh in the mind of people in her community.