The Challenge

Every day around the world over 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth - that’s 1 woman every 2 minutes.

94% of all maternal deaths occur in resource-limited countries like Tanzania, with Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounting for roughly two-thirds of the global maternal deaths. Women die as a result of complications during and following pregnancy and childbirth.

This high number of maternal deaths in certain areas of the world reflects inequalities in access to quality health services and highlights the gap between rich and poor. Most maternal deaths are preventable, as the health-care solutions to prevent or manage complications are well known and very treatable with access to skilled care.

For more information, check out the World Health Organization’s fact sheet on maternal mortality.

For many women, the obstacles to care are insurmountable

More often than not, the only option to receive care is to travel on foot to a health facility which may be 5-10 km away from home. In some areas the distance to the nearest health facility is even further.

If a complication occurs, it can mean life or death

Transfer to a hospital with emergency services may take many hours or even days, and the resulting delay in care leads to life-threatening complications for women and their newborns.

Skilled care before, during & after childbirth saves lives

However women in rural Tanzania face many challenges in accessing health care services, especially maternal health care. Education level, social status, economic resources and cultural factors all impact a woman’s ability to seek and receive healthcare.