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Dept for International Development

Answer

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress being made towards attaining international targets for the reduction of maternal mortality. [143207] Clare Short: The UK Government are working to help to achieve the International Development Target of a reduction by three quarters in maternal mortality by 2015. Significant progress is being made in much of Asia, but progress is slow in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV is a significant factor in increasing maternal mortality rates. Progress has also been slow because safe motherhood requires investment beyond primary health care, tackling health, education, transport and gender. DFID is taking a leadership role in supporting comprehensive, multi-sectoral Government-led safe motherhood programmes in Malawi and Nepal. More work is planned in Tanzania and Kenya. We are encouraging other bilateral and multilateral donors to include maternal health as a key component of health sector strengthening packages, using World Health Organisation standards for better pregnancy care. DFID is also supporting the World Health Organisation in its work to raise the international profile of maternal health.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

360 c576W;360 c577W; 143207

Session

2000-01

Question not reached

Yes

Subjects

Death Developing countries Health education Mothers Maternity services Standards Childbirth

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk