A report from the UK Government International Development Committee on Maternal Health has just been published. It notes that progress towards the Millennium Development Goal on maternal health (MDG 5, which aims to reduce maternal mortalities by three quarters) is less than that for any of the other goals, and this is a cause for concern. However (on P.34/5) Nepal is quoted as an example of what works in preventing maternal deaths, and DfID's support through the earlier Nepal Safer Motherhood Project and current Support to the Safe Motherhood Programme (SSMP) is specifically commended. The report notes that "SSMP takes a multi-pronged approach that seeks to assist policy formulation, provide safe abortion services, improve emergency care and strengthen infrastructure", and suggests there may be potential for replicating these approaches in other countries.

For more details visit:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmintdev/66/66i.pdf