Maternal Health

Making Pregnancy Safe and Expanding Reproductive Health

“Africa accounts for 20 per cent of the world’s births but contributes to 40 per cent of maternal deaths globally, many of which would also be preventable if proper and accessible health care was in place.”

According to WHO, the biggest risk to the lives of teenage girls and women in the developing world is pregnancy and childbirth. Too many young girls become pregnant with devastating and long-term effects on their reproductive health.

Increasing the number of skilled midwives to provide basic and comprehensive emergency and obstetric services is key to preventing maternal deaths.

Amref Health Africa supports reproductive health and rights for women through ensuring access to effective contraceptives, skilled obstetric services, assisted delivery, ante-natal and post-natal care and care of newborns. Reproductive health also includes the prevention and diagnosis of cervical cancer among disadvantaged women.