Leading researchers at the University of Aberdeen are helping to draw attention to the need to prevent women dying during pregnancy and childbirth.
Each year more than half a million women die during pregnancy and childbirth. More than 99% of these tragedies occur in the developing world.
The University of Aberdeen co-ordinates a major initiative to help strengthen the evidence for action to prevent maternal deaths – IMMPACT, which works collaboratively in developing countries, including Burkina Faso, Ghana and Indonesia.
Researchers from IMMPACT have played a major part in the creation of a special edition of The Lancet published today (Thursday September 28).
This major new series on maternal survival brings renewed attention to these deaths and outlines what needs to be done to prevent them. The series brings together the best available evidence on the magnitude, causes and options for progress and is presented in five key papers.
The University is one of the two principal academic institutions contributing to this crucial Maternal Survival Series, with authors on all five papers. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is the other.
The Principal Investigator of IMMPACT, Professor Wendy Graham of the University of Aberdeen, has been heavily involved in preparing the material: both as an author and as a member of the steering group for this Lancet series.
She said: “It has been a great honour and responsibility to be part of this series, and to have the opportunity to draw attention to the evidence on what works in reducing maternal mortality – evidence generated by us and by fellow researchers from around the world.”
Professor Graham and fellow author Dr Oona Campbell of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on the second paper in the series, conclude: “In signing up for Millennium Development Goal 5, which aims to reduce maternal deaths by 75% before 2015, 189 countries have indicated their vision.
“But it is meaningless unless it is translated into a clear strategy for achieving it. During the 20 years of international and national advocacy for safe motherhood, an estimated 10 million women have died of maternal causes. For this to happen in a world where we state that we know what works and that nine out of ten of these deaths are preventable is obscene.”
IMMPACT has just completed its fourth year and will shortly be releasing findings from evaluations in three countries.
Professor Mike Greaves, who is Head of the University’s Medical School, said: “The IMMPACT project has raised the profile of the University of Aberdeen in international health over last four years. The project is an ambitious collaborative venture which is now bearing fruit. The Lancet series is just one example of this and represents a milestone in the development of strategies for reducing maternal mortality globally. The School of Medicine and the University are proud to be involved in this venture and I eagerly anticipate the dissemination of further outputs of international importance by the IMMPACT team.’’