Popular News From Popular Sites: UN and partners ask for more money to save mothers despite little proof the strategies work

Sunday, June 29, 2014

UN and partners ask for more money to save mothers despite little proof the strategies work

FILE- In this July 25, 2010 file photo, traditional birth attendant Magret Atieno assists Mary Wairimu into a position to give birth, during labor in the Korogocho neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya. In the past decade, billions of dollars have been spent trying to save mothers in developing countries using strategies deemed essential by the United Nations. But in two large analyses of maternal health programs_ including one conducted by the U.N. itself _ the efforts appeared almost useless, raising troubling questions about how billions of dollars are spent. Critics are calling for the pricey global initiatives to be significantly overhauled; the programs continue to be implemented despite little proof they work. Even public health officials acknowledge they were taken aback by the results. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi, File) Yet two large analyses of maternal health programs- including one conducted by the U.N. itself - report that the efforts appeared almost useless, raising troubling questions about why all that money was spent. The practices mainly involve things like ensuring women giving birth get cheap drugs such as magnesium sulphate to treat labour complications or pre-emptive antibiotics for those getting a cesarean section. "Nobody could have been more surprised than I was when we got the results," said Dr. Omrana Pasha of Aga Khan University in Pakistan, who led a study of maternal health interventions in six countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. At an international meeting of U.N. partners starting Monday in South Africa, health officials are getting ready to ask donors for even more money to pour into maternal health programs.




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