action for maternal health

help give life to those who give life

and we have enjoined unto man kindness to his parents. In pain did his mother bear him and in pain did she give him birth
Surah Al Ahqaf: 15

Youre going to have a baby! Your heart fills with joy. The joy is tinged with anxiety. Then anxiety turns to dread...
Motherhood is undoubtedly one of the most life-altering and fulfilling experiences in a womans life, however for thousands of women in developing countries it is associated with poor health and extreme risk. When routine checkups and essential medication are not available, minor complications during pregnancy can lead to death for both mother and child. Today, over 99% of global deaths arising from pregnancy and complications occur in the developing world, where giving birth is one of the most serious health risks for women. Almost all of these deaths are preventable through low-cost interventions - like pre- and post-natal care - which can save thousands of lives. Motherkind focuses on providing maternal health provision for the most vulnerable women worldwide. Expectant mothers benefit from life-saving interventions, such as prenatal care, skilled birth attendants and proper hygiene. Women can also access advice on newborn health and receive post-natal care. Help bring the topic of maternal health out in the open and prevent the silent tragedy of maternal death worldwide inshaAllah.

CONTENTS 04
in numbers: maternal death around the world

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many faces of maternal health care

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a silent tragedy plays out Facts on the true extent of maternal death around the world protecting mother and baby The different approaches to delivering maternal health provisions a united global approach Motherkind works for mothers in communities around the world forgotten mothers With one of the highest rates of maternal death, we stand to support Afghan mothers

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a global effort

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10

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the forgotten mothers of Afghanistan

a silent tragedy plays out

APPROXIMATELY OF MATERNAL DEATHS OCCUR IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, WHERE GIVING BIRTH REMAINS AMONG THE MOST SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS FOR WOMEN

99%

In Afghanistan, 1 in 11 women will die during the course of childbirth. This means mothers in Afghanistan are over 600 times more likely to die in childbirth than those in developed countries such as the UK. ACTION HOT SPOTS Afghanistan Niger Tanzania Nepal Bangladesh India Indonesia Iraq Sri Lanka UK 1 in 11 1 in 16 1 in 23 1 in 80 1 in 110 1 in 140 1 in 190 1 in 300 1 in 1100 1 in 6700

risk of dying in childbirth 1 in 20 or more 1 in 20 to 49 1 in 50 to 499 1 in 500 to 4999 1 in 5000 or less

Muslim Hands (MH) is active in all these countries and, with your support, will extend our projects to even more mothers around the world inshaAllah.

facts on maternal death

60 seconds
Every minute a woman dies during labour or delivery

1 million
One million children are left motherless each year. These children are 10 times more likely to die within two years

1 dead: 20 disabled
For every woman who dies, another 20 suffer illnesses or injury from childbirth

80%
A total of 80% of maternal deaths are from preventable causes such as severe bleeding and infections after childbirth, high blood pressure and obstructed labour

15 - 49 years old
In Afghanistan, for women of reproductive age (between 15-49) the biggest risk to a womans life is having a baby
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standing to protect mother and baby

MANY FACES OF MATERNAL HEALTH

The biggest killers of mothers are also the most preventable. So what does it actually take to save a mothers life? For such a widespread problem you would assume quite a lot. However, the truth is that having a small number of key interventions in place would drastically alter the high maternal death rates. OF THE 1000 WOMEN WHO DIE EVERY DAY DURING PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH, 8 OUT OF 10 COULD BE SAVED IF THEY HAD ACCESS TO BASIC HEALTHCARE SUCH AS A HOSPITAL, ROUTINE MEDICATION, OR TRAINED HEALTH WORKERS This is not expensive or difficult to provide. There are many different and successful approaches to tackling maternal mortality.

PRE-NATAL CARE AND ADVICE

Maternal difficulties such as pregnancy diabetes, insufficient weight gain, and high blood pressure, if left untreated, can be harmful to the foetus. A doctor can monitor the babys wellbeing directly by listening to the foetal heartbeat, checking the size and positioning of the uterus and foetus, and testing for various abnormalities. Early detection can allow the proper medical assistance to be present at the time of birth, greatly reducing risk to mother and baby. MH provides pre-natal care at maternal health clinics such as the Well Mother Clinic in Sri Lanka.

SKILLED BIRTH AT TENDANTS

All women need access to skilled care during childbirth and it is particularly important that all births are attended by health professionals, as timely management of complications and simple interventions can make the difference between life and death at this critical time. Sadly, few women in developing countries benefit from this kind of support during childbirth. This means that millions of births are not assisted by a midwife, a doctor or a trained nurse. Over 15,000 women have been helped through childbirth by Muslim Hands.

MEDICATION AND HYGIENE

Infection after childbirth can be eliminated altogether if good hygiene is practised, or can be easily treated if the early signs are recognised. Education programmes provide health messages in an accessible and culturally-sensitive manner. During childbirth, administering drugs such as magnesium sulfate can lower a womans risk of developing eclampsia, one of the most common causes of death. Medication and good hygiene practice has been provided for women across Sudan, Indonesia and China.

ACCESSIBLE MATERNAL CLINICS

A well equipped, accessible hospital can provide a variety of facilities which contribute to a safer, smoother and less traumatic process of delivery. This includes medical professionals such as doctors, midwives and birth attendants who can successfully handle high-risk pregnancies. Maternal hospitals have the correct equipment and procedures for post-natal care and ongoing support in case of complications. Muslim Hands maternity units operate in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

POST-BIRTH CARE AND ADVICE

Post-natal care is necessary to ensure that no complications have developed in the woman after childbirth. This will include an examination of the stomach and pelvis to see that the pelvic organs have returned to their pre-pregnancy state. New mothers can address any deviation from expected recovery after birth and receive advice on other concerns such as diet, development, breast-feeding and post-natal depression.

a united global effort

ALL WOMEN NEED ACCESS TO ANTE-NATAL CARE IN PREGNANCY, SKILLED CARE DURING CHILDBIRTH, AND SUPPORT IN THE WEEKS AFTER GIVING BIRTH
Motherkind is our commitment to protecting mothers and children at their most critical time. Muslim Hands has taken the campaign to some of the most vulnerable communities across Sudan, Indonesia, Kashmir and China. So far, our work has extended to reach over 15,000 women. Infants have received preand post-natal checkups, and we have given essential pre- and post-birth training to nurses, childminders and non-medical specialists who continue educating mothers on caring for themselves and their infants. Supporting the mothers of post-Tsunami Indonesia, MH has supported over 1000 expectant mothers and 2000 babies across 7 provinces. Women and infants in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, West Java, Jakarta, Yogyakarta and East Java have been provided with regular medical care, essential nutritional food and vitamin supplements designed for breast-feeding mothers.

how does a woman dying impact her child?

The health of the mother and that of her baby are inextricably bound. Babies born to mothers who die in childbirth are less likely to survive. One study found seven out of ten of the babies born to mothers who died, died themselves in infancy. In fact, even older children are up to ten times more likely to die within two years of their mothers death than those with living mothers.

reducing baby death in rural Sri Lanka

FAR FROM SUCCESSFUL URBAN CITIES, MOTHERS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES STILL REQUIRE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT
Pregnancy can be a nervous time for any expectant mother, but in countries like Sri Lanka particularly, many women are left vulnerable as social taboos prevent them seeking treatment for routine conditions associated with pregnancy. WITH EXPERIENCE IN INFANT MORTALITY REDUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN, INDONESIA, INDIA AND BANGLADESH, MH SRI LANKA SET UP A WELL MOTHER CLINIC IN ORDER TO PROVIDE QUALITY MATERNITY AND POST-NATAL CARE FOR WOMEN WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TREATMENT The clinic offers qualified obstetricians and gynaecologists to examine and perform regular checkups for expectant mothers. The clinic also has staff to advise women on the nutritional levels they need to maintain during pregnancy. Counselling is also offered to new mothers suffering from conditions like post-natal depression. Now inshaAllah mothers and children can look forward to healthy futures.

the story of Hifla

In the mosquito-infested streets of Puttalam in Sri Lanka, locals sarcastically call their neighbourhood Malaria Lane because of the prevalence of this contagious disease. Hifla lives right in the middle of Malaria Lane. Upon discovering she was pregnant, Hifla and her husband immediately became anxious over the health of their unborn child. Hifla tells us: I felt my body changing and started experiencing symptoms I had never known about before. It was just another morning when I heard the announcement that a free clinic was opening for women like me. I was absolutely overjoyed! My husband and I went to the Well Mother Clinic and received an immediate pregnancy check up. The female doctor listened intently before providing me with the advice I needed. It was such a relief... Since then, Ive been registered as a mum to be and can now see out my pregnancy in confidence and with support inshaAllah.
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the forgotten mothers of Afghanistan

Afghanistan regularly features in our headlines as a scene of conflict and instability, however there is a silent crisis playing out far from the media headlines. Women in Afghanistan face the prospect of motherhood in a country where 1 in 11 women die in childbirth. Female doctors are rare and even basic access to pre-natal care is hard to find. THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT HOPES TO ACHIEVE A 75% REDUCTION OF MATERNAL MORTALITY IN AFGHANISTAN BY 2015. AS IT STANDS THEY HAVE YET TO REACH EVEN HALF OF THIS TARGET In fact, maternal mortality in Afghanistan is the leading cause of death amongst women of reproductive age. Most expectant mothers are not able to access a doctor to help with the birth and women dying in
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MATERNAL HEALTH CLINIC FOR A NATION TORN BY WAR, CONFLIC T AND CHRONIC POVERT Y
childbirth severely impacts the survival rates of newborns. Puleh Charkhi is a mountainous area of east Kabul, within vast valleys which are often both inaccessible by road and blocked by floods and avalanches during harsh winters. Therefore there is rarely access to healthcare for residents inside of the region. Although, there are over 20,000 households in Puleh Charkhi and 1800 babies are born every year, there is only one female doctor in the district. MH Afghanistan will build a custom Maternal Health Clinic in Puleh Charkhi to deliver pre-natal, post-natal and ante-natal care to approximately 2000 expectant mothers every month.

fact: the most common causes of death are also the most preventable
It is no understatement to say the majority of pregnant mothers in Afghanistan never receive any pre-natal care and deliver their babies without any help. dispensers, nurses, lab assistants, birth attendants and also an ultrasound technician. In the clinic, pregnant women will have access to checkups, essential vitamins, personal advice and support. During childbirth, women will benefit from assisted child delivery, ante-natal check ups and a baby pack containing the basic essentials to see a child through their early, most vulnerable weeks. The clinic will be used as an equipped site to hold training for midwives and traditional birth attendants as well as weekly and monthly classes to educate and advise on labour.

the broken heart of Afghan mothers

One of the highest rates of maternal deaths in the world Years of conflict have devastated health systems Only 11% of childbirths take place in a health facility Over 87% of maternal deaths were considered preventable When mothers die, there is a 25% likelihood that their baby will also die in the first month

The primary complications of childbirth are bleeding, infection, hypertension, and obstructed labour. The most tragic part is most of these deaths could be prevented with increased access to maternal health services. ON AVERAGE, IN RURAL AREAS, THERE ARE FEWER THAN SIX DOCTORS, SEVEN NURSES AND FOUR MIDWIVES AVAILABLE FOR EVERY 100,000 WOMEN Following a needs assessment of households in Puleh Charkhi, the maternal health clinic will have on-site doctors, midwives,

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YES! I WILL HELP SUPPORT MOTHERS ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Postcode: Tel: ________________________________________
email address:

Your donations can help provide: New mothers pack

Typical Pack includes items such as:

Name & Address: (Please use BLOCK CAPS )

160 60 10 30 20 20 20 85

50n

100n

250n
_______ _______ _______

500n

Other_______
New mother Pack New born Pack Midwife pack Where most needed

1. Nutritional supplements for 1 month (for mother) 2. Folic acid for use throughout pregnancy 3. Essential vitamins for use throughout pregnancy and up to 3 months after 4. Clothing for use at time of delivery and a suit to go home in 5. Reusable nappies, baby towel and wipes 6. Skin care lotions & oils for baby 3 months supply New born / baby pack
Typical Pack includes items such as:

Amount zakah Sadaqah Total enclosed

n n n n

Credit / Debit Card No:

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Expiry date: nnnn Issue number: nn

Muslim Hands Charity No. 1105056.

1. Baby milk powder for three months including milk bottle 40 2. Blanket 10 3. Clothes including, hat, suit, socks 15 4. Basic medicine (gripe water, vaccinations after 1 and 3 months) 10 5. Toys 10 Midwife pack
Typical Pack includes items such as:

Gift Aid Declaration:

35 Bedding set Umbilical cord clamp Sterilised razor blade Weighing scales/sling 240

I am a UK tax payer & I wish Muslim Hands to reclaim tax on all donations I have made for the 4 years prior to this year, and all future donations I make from the date of this declaration untill I notify you otherwise. I understand that I must pay income tax at least equal to the amount reclaimed in the appropriate tax year.

Signed _______________________ Date ______________________ Make all cheques & P.O.s payable to MUSLIM HANDS and send to: Muslim Hands. 148 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham. NG7 5JE (UK)

Sterilised disposable gloves Soap, antiseptic solution Gauze swabs Sanitary towels

Train a health worker Pay for the training of a health worker (birth attendant, midwife, health visitor) Help purchase baby incubator for premature births

www.muslimhands.org | 0115 9117222

2000