The fate of the newborn is inextricably linked to the health of the mother both before and during pregnancy and delivery. Millions more are crippled by birth trauma and asphyxia during delivery, or suffer lifelong consequences. We simply cannot afford such a drain on precious human resources. Good pre-natal care and qualified birth attendance mean fewer serious complications and healthier infants. It means fewer economic shocks for poor parents and a better start to life for their children.
Women are often the main bread winner of poor families.
We have a long way to go. Around the world, every minute of every day a woman dies due to pregnancy or child birth complications. Every 45 minutes that woman is an Indonesian. She dies because there is no skilled person to handle complications during delivery, or because she has been referred to hospital too late. She may even die in the hospital, because she does not receive the treatment she needs.