Sri Lanka: real lives

Every 60 seconds, a woman somewhere in the world dies from complications during pregnancy. The vast majority of these deaths, almost 90 per cent of them, in fact, occur in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. There, women have limited access to education, healthcare facilities and trained birth attendants.

ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Sri Lanka is hoping to save the lives of mothers and infants with a new safe motherhood program. Eleven communities are participating in the program, launched by ChildFund in Sri Lanka in April 2001. The program revolves around the assignment of a medical care officer to each of the pilot projects. The medical care officers, retired nurses or midwives with at least 20 years of related experience, perform pre- and postnatal checkups and also teach workshops in the community.

Every month, these special healthcare providers visit expectant mothers at home to ensure they are getting proper care. They weigh the mothers, take their vital signs and listen to the baby's heart. On a special card, the medical care officer charts the mother's weight gain and the foetus's growth. While there, they ensure that the mother's home environment is safe and free from domestic abuse. They can identify problems early on and make referrals to specialists. After delivery, several follow-up visits are made to ensure the continued health of mother and child.

Additionally, the nurses conduct safe motherhood workshops monthly. Subjects include pre- and postnatal care, breastfeeding, newborn care and nutrition. In Sri Lanka, most women gain insufficient weight, usually 15 to 17 pounds, during pregnancy. This has resulted in a high number of infants with low birth weights.