Half the births in the world still take place without a trained attendant present. The women who die in childbirth are mostly those who could not reach the maternity services, or who reached them too late. Health workers and policy makers must now look urgently at how they can provide care in the communities where poor and rural women live. All the good practice in this issue of CHD is equally true for all women and their babies, no matter what their HIV status. International agencies and national governments everywhere are trying to respond effectively to this vast human tragedy of 1,500 women dying in childbirth every day.
Health workers have a very important role to play.
Think about what you can do. This issue of CHD should give you plenty of ideas.