GE Citizenship

Expert Perspective: Maternal Mortality in the World’s “Orphaned Countries”

Leslie Mancuso
President and CEO of Jhpiego

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No woman should die giving life.

Unfortunately, it happens every day in the developing world.

Jhpiego and other international health organizations are marshalling people, technology and governments to save the lives of women and children. Women throughout Africa, where we have worked for more than 35 years, are dying from conditions and complications of child birth that are easily treated in America, Europe and other developed countries.

Nearly half a million women across the globe bleed to death after giving birth or perish from infection or die in delivery because trained health care workers aren’t by their side. Some women are more at risk because they live in countries of Africa that have been forgotten: Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and a dozen other nations have among the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality and lowest life expectancy even though fewer of their citizens are infected with HIV/AIDS.

The 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa command neither the attention of policy makers or aid dollars that could change the lives of women and children, secure the future of families and sustain communities.

The reasons vary — population, political leadership, language barriers, international oversight. Sadly, the result is the same. When a mother’s health is compromised, the health of her children and family suffer too.

A survey by our organization found that the health of residents in the 14 countries is far worse than that of people living in the 29 dominant African countries. As orphaned countries, the 14 receive less than half in per capita U.S. government aid dollars for health programs than do the African countries favored by donors — 86 cents compared to $3.95.

Can corporate America help resolve this unacceptable disparity?

Through its Developing Health Globally project, a commitment to improve hospitals and clinics in 10 African countries, GE has recognized the enormous need on the continent. The health concerns of women and children, however, often begin before they ever enter a hospital. Companies should support programs that promote healthy pregnancies and newborn deliveries, develop low-cost, evidence-based diagnostic and treatment tools for use in countries that have neither the resources or infrastructure to support high-tech systems and train health care practitioners who deliver this much-needed care despite great odds.

Dr. Blami Dao is one such professional. He is a dean at a medical school in Burkina Faso, one of the 14 orphaned countries. An early participant in Jhpiego-sponsored training in emergency obstetrical care, Dr. Dao used his skills to teach general practitioners in his country to do Caesarean sections. This cross-training enabled many more pregnant women in Burkina Faso to have access to this life-saving procedure. Today, his teaching hospital is affiliated with 30 maternity clinics and more than a dozen countries use it as a training center for physicians.

Supporting a master trainer like Dr. Dao is an investment that pays life-saving dividends and reaches across borders.

A commitment of resources to the 14 orphaned countries would offset the punishing disparity in international aid that affects the nearly 120 million people living there. Improved maternal and newborn health is the key to strengthen families and sustain Africa’s orphaned countries.

In the 21st century, no one should die giving life.

About Leslie Mancuso

Leslie Mancuso, PhD, RN, FAAN, is president and CEO of Jhpiego, an international health non-profit affiliated with Johns Hopkins University. For 35 years, Jhpiego has empowered front-line health workers by designing and implementing effective, low-cost, hands-on solutions to strengthen the delivery of health care services for women and their families. Jhpiego works to break down barriers to high-quality health care for the world’s most vulnerable populations.