TALK POINT: MATERNAL HEALTH - CAN MDG5 BE ACHIEVED BY 2015?
(Guardian.co.uk) - By Jaz Cummins
A global shortage of midwives is reducing the chances of countries hitting millennium development goal 5 to reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality rate. Tell us what you think about maternal and child health, and the progress of the MDGs
Thursday is International Day of the Midwife, but a global shortage of midwives means many women around the world are giving birth without a trained professional, increasing the risk to women's health and reducing the chances of countries hitting millennium development goal 5 to cut maternal mortality rates.
Sarah Boseley wrote about the global health shortage last month, highlighting a report by Save the Children that said the world needs 350,000 more midwives.
In our new interactive, we hear from midwives across Africa about their experiences and the chances of hitting MDG5. We also look at the issue of maternal health in Nigeria.
Tell us what you think can be done to transform the health of pregnant women, mothers and their young children?
Is the greatest need more midwives and training? Or is this really a matter of political will and governments prioritising the needs of women and babies?
Which countries and projects are doing interesting work on this area? How are they doing this? What must be done by 2015 and beyond?
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