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Mail & Guardian
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(John McCann/M&G)

What do mothers really want?

A bunch of flowers on Mother’s Day expresses gratitude but mothers need more – recognise all their work, listen to them, include them in decision-making

In Sierra Leone’s island-bound district of Bonthe, Francess Kenjah travelled seven hours to reach the nearest hospital to deliver her baby. (Valeria Scrilatti)

This is what it’s like to give birth in the world’s most dangerous country for moms

When a river and several hours of dirt roads stand between you & the nearest hospital, giving birth can be deadly. One nurse is hoping to change that.

A child at a clinic in Bamako. The country’s child mortality rate is among the highest in the world. (Muso)
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This president is putting his money where is mouth is when it comes to an NHI

Mali joins the ranks of countries such as Sierra Leone, South Africa & Burkina Faso to provide free healthcare to moms and tots.

The health department has proposed accrediting public hospitals to provide c-sections as a way of improving the safety of the procedures across the country. (Reuters)

This is putting SA’s women in the grave, so what’s health department doing about it?

Pregnancy in South Africa is getting safer, but still not safe enough. Here’s what the health department says they’re doing about it.

(Afolabi Sotunde, Reuters)

Only half of clinics and hospitals in this country meet basic hygiene standards

What if your doctor couldn’t even wash her hands before examining you?

The struggle to survive bringing a new life into the world is still so real for South African women. (Cheryl Ravelo-Gagalac, Reuters)
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‘HIV testing was compulsory. If you didn’t test, they wouldn’t treat you’

The struggle to survive pregnancy and death in a land of plenty and poverty hasn’t changed much in the past five years — there are lives to prove it.

A mother delivers via C-section in Mozambique. In South Africa, there’s no single reason for the climbing number of such procedures in the public sector but it could be proving deadly for mothers. (Shaun Swingler)

A changing birth: What’s behind SA’s skyrocketing c-section rates?

Almost one in four babies born at public hospitals come into the world via c-section but is it costing some women their lives?

More than 80 countries around the world have used a simple training programme to help nurses and doctors prevent more infant deaths. Could it work in SA?

Thousands of babies die each year in SA. This could help save them.

A week. That’s how long most newborns who die will make it in South Africa. But there may be hope yet for the country’s tiniest patients

Nigeria’s maternal mortality is high. But if mothers such as Oluwakemi Junaid won’t go to hospital

Old birth rites, new ways

When bringing a new life into the world risks taking another, even old traditions have to adopt new ways.

To give effect to this fundamental right, the mandates that every child’s birth must be registered with the department of home affairs. Photo: Supplied

Giving birth has become less dangerous in South Africa

But will the country be able to half its maternal mortality ratio by 2030 – in time to achieve its sustainable development goal?

Lest we forget: A wall at the memorial site of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau

Midwives’ care during childbirth drastically improves outcomes for labouring mothers

Competent, compassionate care during labour and delivery is good for the dignity of mothers-to-be – and for their chance of survival.

If mitigating steps are not taken immediately, in a concerted effort by all stakeholders, the pandemic will be a catastrophe for girls.

Laws fail victims of forced, early marriage in “chauvinistic” Burkina Faso – Amnesty

Girls who are forced into early marriage are abused and denied access to contraception.

Midwife Miriam Mathose conducts an ultrasound on a pregnant woman.

Solar power, text messages fight maternal deaths in rural Cameroon

Solar power, solar electricity and mobile technology are helping to reduce the rate of maternal mortality in Cameroon.

How the death of two Ugandan mothers is helping entrench the right to health care

How the death of two Ugandan mothers is helping entrench the right to health care

The case has already contributed to improved jurisprudence on socioeconomic rights in Uganda

Kirsten King

Mothers and babies at risk in Apostolic church ‘birth camps’

Leaders of Zimbabwe’s Apostolic sects are warming to the idea of women giving birth at health clinics.

Mozambique decrimanalises abortion to curb maternal deaths

The new law specifies that abortions will have to be carried out in recognised and designated health centres by qualified practitioners.

Life: Pelagie Nyirambarushimana and her child Francine Niyonshuti at the Central University Hospital of Kigali. Rwanda has made drastic improvements in reducing child mortality.

Comment: Good health without the fear of ruin

Twenty years after the genocide, Rwanda’s health system is showing drastic improvements.

‘Unnecessarily high’ Caesarean section rate is cause for concern

More women are having C-section births in SA, but authors of the 2013/2014 District Health Barometer warn that this increase is "a matter of concern".

Women are built to create one of the most complicated things on Earth – a human being.

MDGs: Child and maternal health needs critical care

Despite increased efforts to improve child and maternal health, countries are still lagging behind in meeting their Millennium Development Goals.

Educated girls have children later in life and are less likely to die during childbirth.

Education is the foundation for young girls’ future

Along with better access to health services and reducing child marriage, education can save many lives.