Safe motherhood最新文献

The 19th anniversary of the Safe Motherhood Initiative was marked in Tanzania this year. In addition to special celebrations, the anniversary was also marked by the launching of a campaign to eliminate female genital mutilation. The celebrations, which lasted several weeks, were inaugurated by a statement from the Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Chiduo. The events included the showing of video films on sexual and reproductive health in 7 primary and 8 secondary schools, as well as public showings. Traditional birth attendants and nurse-midwives in one district were shown the safe motherhood film "Why did Mrs. X die?" Panel discussions on safe motherhood were broadcast on the radio in both English and Swahili. Posters and leaflets were distributed on various aspects of reproductive health. A press conference with representatives of the Tanzanian Ministry of Women's Affairs and Ministry of Health, together with representatives of WHO and UNICEF, focused on safe motherhood and female genital mutilation. The meeting attracted 100 journalists. The celebrations ended with a day of traditional dances and songs to mark the 10th anniversary of safe motherhood. A statement from the Minister of Health stressed that female genital mutilation "has no religious or scientific value" and needs to be stopped. The practice has been officially banned in Tanzania since the 1970s but is still prevalent in certain regions of the country.

War and disaster strike everyone hard, but they strike the most vulnerable people hardest. Since the Second World War more than 21 million people, most of them women and children, have died in wars and other conflicts. Countless others have perished in natural disasters. Most of the world's 50 million refugees and displaced persons are women and children. The special feature in this issue of Safe Motherhood looks especially at mothers and infants in situations of war and disaster. It describes their plight as innocent victims, as society's most vulnerable members struggling to survive in hostile surroundings, and as lonely figures trying to rebuild their lives against all odds. It particularly focuses on motherhood among women refugees. Much can be done to improve the situation of these mothers and their infants. The special feature describes steps that can be taken to make sure that motherhood is safer--and infant health more secure--even when the situation seems to be desperate. Women refugees face all kinds of disadvantages and hardships. WHO is developing guidelines on women's reproductive health during conflict and displacement to address these problems. The feature in this newsletter is based on these guidelines.

For women and their families the world over, the birth of a baby they want is a happy event. Birth is a time for joy and celebration, a time for congratulations, good wishes and gifts. Sadly, not all births are happy occasions. Birth and the days and weeks immediately following (known as the postpartum period) are a crucial time for the health and well-being of mother and child. Complications may arise and things may go wrong. In fact, most maternal deaths take place in the postpartum period. Women and their babies need all the help they can get a this time to protect them from illness and to build up their strength for the future. The special feature in this issue of "Safe motherhood" looks specifically at the provision of postpartum care. It describes the problems that mothers and babies may encounter and the services that need to be on hand both to prevent these problems from occurring and to provide solutions if they do occur. The feature in this newsletter looks at postpartum care particularly from the point of view of the health worker. But the protection of the health of women and their babies at this critical time of life cannot be achieved by health workers alone. Postpartum care is the responsibility of all of us--health workers, family members, and the wider community.