Source: Voice of America
Globally, the number of maternal deaths has been cut in half since 1990. But, in Nigeria 40,000 women die each year because of pregnancy complications. Aid organizations say poverty, isolation and dangerous traditions are the heart of the problem while some mothers say there are simply no doctors at the hospital.
Source: All Africa
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina has said that Nigeria of tomorrow would be better if children grew up internalising a culture of peace.
Source: The Zimbabwean
He was speaking in Harare on the first day of a two day summit organised by GlobalPower Women Network Africa whose objective is to generate action for women's empowerment and the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.
The Secretary General of the East Africa Community Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera today launched the East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP) in Arusha. The new platform is aimed at promoting women's participation in the EAC trade and integration process.
The executive director of African Centre for Democracy and Human Right Studies (ACDHRS) has said that women perspectives are vital for national development.
Source: The Daily Observer
The head of the United Nations Government, Joint Program on Gender Based Violence (GBV), has called on the Government of Liberia to improve incentives for women officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP).
Two separate reports about women commissioned by both World Bank Group and the British Council have shown that most young women in Nigeria feel it is okay for husbands to physically assault their spouses for "offences".
For any girl or woman to be able to really be the person she was meant to be and reach her full potential, perceptions of the community, of her fellow girls and women, and the way she perceives herself are vital.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could grow significantly if the empowerment gap between the men and women could be narrowed.
Traditional weavers in Addis Abeba are to receive traditional weaving and design training starting this June to help them produce exportable products.
While commending the work of a United Nations commission trying to improve access to life-saving medicines, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that much remains to be done to save the lives of the 800 women and more than 20,000 children who die every day from preventable causes.
THE MINISTER for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, wants the proposed Traditional Courts Bill scrapped and the process started from scratch.
Source: Amnesty International
"Maybe this could be the year when freedom of expression and association will be respected... Maybe this could be the year when Ethiopians will no more be imprisoned for their political convictions."
Source: Bernama
The African Union in collaboration with the United Nations Programme on AIDS will launch the Zimbabwe chapter of the Global Power Women Network Africa (GPWN) at a conference here Thursday, New Ziana reported.
Source: All Africa
The women's Sande Society that operates throughout West Africa 'is evil' and a danger to peace and stability, Montserrado County Superintendent Grace has told visiting members of the UN Security Council, while soliciting financial or other forms of assistance to eradicate it.
Source: The New Times
The wider use of contraceptive methods within the East Africa region is still undermined by underlying cultural beliefs that glorify large families, health officials said during the 5th Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network (EARHN) summit.
Source: 7th Space
South Africa's maternal mortality rate (625 deaths/100,000 live births) is high for amiddle-income country, although over 90% of pregnant women utilize maternal healthservices. Alongside HIV/AIDS, barriers to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Carecurrently impede the country's Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing childmortality and improving maternal health.
Source:Daily News
Saving the lives of both mothers and their infants during childbirth is one of the most challenging problems facing many countries in Africa. In Zanzibar out of every 100,000 live births, 378 women die in labour or in complications related to childbirth.
Source: AllAfrica
The fifth coordination meeting of the Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network (EARHN) started on Monday with the theme "Repositioning family planning and reproductive health in Eastern Africa."
At the time of writing this piece, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had just arrived in Botswana on a three-day official state visit. This piece serves as a tribute to Sirleaf whose election as the first female head of state in Africa should inspire African women.