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“No woman should have to pay with her life for giving life,” he writes in an opinion piece published in the Turkish daily Today’s Zaman and several other media outlets, ahead of Mother’s Day, which will be celebrated in many countries this weekend.
Mr. Ban notes that saving mothers’ lives involves simple blood tests, a doctor’s consultation and someone qualified to help with the birth. The risk of death can almost be eliminated with the addition of some basic antibiotics, blood transfusions and a safe
On Wednesday, the First Lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni, launched the campaign for accelerated reduction of maternity, Newborn and Child Mortality in Uganda.
The drive, code named 'EVERYONE', was launched at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, in Kampala. The ceremony was attended by the social affairs commissioner of the Africa Union, Biance Gawanas.
"There are indications that maternal mortality is reducing gradually. It is our responsibility to ensure that no other mother or child dies due to birth-related complications," Mrs. Museveni said.
Citing her experience in community service, Mrs. Museveni said the causes of maternal and infant mortality are preventable.
Inadequate access to antenatal care, lack of sufficient knowledge on family planning and poor nutrition for pregnant mothers, Mrs. Museveni added, were the lead cause of mortality.
She urged heath workers to ensure that no woman dies in child-birth.
Mrs. Museveni, who is also the Karamoja affairs state minister, said there is need to strengthen the health sector.
She also noted the need to increase health workers' salaries and supporting village health teams.
The First Lady noted a very important point here. The need to increase on the number of Community Health Workers. This would help reduce on the number of mortality rate for expecting mothers and infants.
The Secretary-General notes that in poor countries, pregnant women often must fend for themselves, with no healthcare and nowhere to turn. They give birth at home, perhaps with the help of a midwife who most likely has no medical training.
Last month, the UN launched a joint action plan with governments, businesses, foundations and civil society organizations to advance safe motherhood worldwide. Reducing maternal mortality by three quarters is among the ambitious targets world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mr. Ban, who himself was born not in a hospital but at home in a small village in his native Republic of Korea, urges that everything be done to make motherhood safer for all and to end this “silent scandal.”
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