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SafeHands for Mothers' vision is to contribute to a reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity from pregnancy-related causes and to protect and promote health of the newborn in developing countries. We aim to achieve this through the production of high quality films and visual materials to support government and non governmental training and advocacy programmes.
Every year between 500,000 and 600,000 women die from pregnancy-related causes; 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries.
SafeHands calls for a renewed effort to combat the unnecessarily high number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth. A woman living in sub-Saharan Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying during pregnancy and childbirth[1]. An international goal has been set to achieve a 75% reduction by 2015. Nancy Durrell McKenna, Founder and Executive Director of SafeHands for Mothers, says 'We have to ask why, in the 21st century, 1,600 women die everyday during pregnancy or childbirth: the equivalent to a Titanic full of pregnant women sinking. The tragedy is that a huge number of these deaths are preventable simply by having a pair of safe hands to care during pregnancy and when giving birth' [1] Maternal Mortality in 2000. Estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA |
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