About two-thirds of maternal deaths, newborn deaths and stillbirths could be prevented by 2035 with universal access to care from professional midwives, says the World Health Organisation.
WHO and UNICEF are calling on governments to protect and promote women’s access to skilled breastfeeding counselling, a critical component of breastfeeding support.
UNICEF believes that providing universal health care can help save more newborns and is calling for immediate investment in midwives and other health workers who are equipped with the write medicines and equipment to ensure all mothers and babies are cared for safely.
Nearly half of mothers who have recently given birth get less than three minutes, or no time at all, to discuss their mental and physical health at a postnatal check, according to new research by the National Childbirth Trust.
More than five million families spend over 40 per cent of their non-food household expenses on maternal health services every year, UNICEF says in a new analysis of maternal health.