Maternal health around the world
The campaign to improve maternal health in some of the world's poorest nations.
In the second program of the series Health for All from the BBC World Service, Uduak Amimo joins the campaign to improve maternal health in some of the poorest nations in the world.
Five countries have reported increases in maternal deaths. The proportion of children dying before the age of five has gone up, especially in countries which have experienced armed conflict, inadequate investment in health services and a high rate of HIV/AIDS.
Campaigners have been lobbying the G8 to get the topic on the agenda for the summit in Japan. They have succeeded in getting some coverage but are waiting to see just how much time will be spent on discussing maternal mortality.
HIV/AIDS has benefited from discussion at this high level and the concern with campaigners for maternal health is that the political will might wane and thus affect the good work that has been done.
Along with an increase in funding, the political will to achieve the reduction of infection does mean that governments may have to make controversial policies - such as supporting the giving of clean needles to drug users and promoting condom campaigns.
Produced by the world's most respected news source, the BBC World Service is a 24-hour news service that gives listeners access to the latest world news, expert analysis, commentary, features, and interviews on issues of the day. Distributed exclusively in the U.S. by PRI.
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