Safe Motherhood Initiative
The Safe Motherhood Initiative is a worldwide effort that aims to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses associated with pregnancy and childbirth. It was launched at a conference held in Nairobi in 1987. Its aim was to draw the world's attention to the thousands of deaths and millions of serious complications that occur every year in association with motherhood. The conference was co-sponsored by a group of international agencies that founded the Safe Motherhood Inter-Agency Group (IAG), namely:
- United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)
- United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA)
- The World Health Organisation (WHO)
- The World Bank
- The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)
- The Population Council
- Internation Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
- International Conference of Midwives
- Safe Motherhood Network of Nepal
- Familycare International
In January 2004, an expanded Partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health was established with the aim of promoting the health of women and newborns, especially the most vulnerable. Expanding the scope of the global Safe Motherhood Initiative and building on the work of the Safe Motherhood Inter-Agency Group, the Partnership aims to strengthen maternal and newborn health efforts at the global, regional, and national levels, in the context of equity, poverty reduction, and human rights Focusing on the areas of advocacy/information-sharing, technical advancement, and country-level support and partnership, the Partnership undertakes the following activities:
- Implementing an advocacy/media strategy to refocus global attention to improving the health of women and newborns in developing countries;
- Stimulating national-level commitment to make safe motherhood/newborn health a priority within national development plans and aid requests;
- Promoting effective interventions to improve the application of technical knowledge and research findings
