Our friends at the UNFPA have sent us updates about their recent work on the MDSR front.

MDSR is high on UNFPA’s agenda and various initiatives are underway to support their initiation, implementation and scaling-up in priority countries.

UNFPA is part of the H4+ partnership which includes UNAIDS, UNICEF, UN Women, WHO and the World Bank. With funding from the Canadian government, H4+ is currently supporting efforts to accelerate progress in maternal and newborn health in five countries (Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Zimbabwe). Continue reading →

One of our network reports from Cameroon where progress is underway to set up a MDSR system. Read more below!

A MDSR system is currently being set-up in Cameroon, reports Dr Seidou Moluh who is one of the network members from this country. A workshop brought together 40 participants – obstetricians-gynaecologists, paediatricians, epidemiological surveillance actors, and government representatives – from all parts of Cameroon in Douala in November 2013.

The workshop set the ground for building an effective MDSR system in the country and explored different methods for conducting maternal death reviews. It was decided that the pre-existing Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response will be adapted and used for the surveillance of maternal deaths as well. We look forward to hearing more on how this progresses in Cameroon!

Maternal death reviews have recently been institutionalised in Nigeria, thanks to the ongoing advocacy efforts of the Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria (SOGON). Read more below!

In Nigeria, national maternal death reviews (MDR) guidelines were recently adopted and MDR has been gaining momentum on the ground. MDR are now being seen as a crucial component of strategies to reduce maternal deaths in the country. Well done to the Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) and partners for contributing towards this thanks to their ongoing advocacy efforts! Continue reading →