GMHC2013 was a technical conference for scientists, researchers and policy-makers to network, share knowledge and build on progress toward eradicating preventable maternal mortality and morbidity by improving quality of care. The conference was co-sponsored by Management and Development for Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and the Maternal Health Task Force at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA.
In 2010, the first Global Maternal Health Conference was convened in New Delhi, as a partnership with the Public Health Foundation of India and the MHTF. The 2013 conference built on the successful technical focus and abstract-driven structure of the 2010 conference.
GMHC2013 was held at the Arusha International Conference Center in Tanzania, January 15-17, 2013, featuring:
- more than 700 participants/presenters
- parallel sessions and poster presentations within 5 tracks
- 3 plenary sessions with leading maternal health experts
- scholarships for developing country-based presenters
- high-level government officials
- a gala event at the new Mt. Meru Hotel
The GMHC 2013 Steering Committee oversaw the conference program.The GMHC2013 Scientific Sub-Committee reviewed and approved abstracts.
Steering Committee
Ana Langer, Co-Chair
Maternal Health Task Force, USA
Guerino Chalamilla, Co-Chair
Management and Development for Health, Tanzania
Fernando Althabe
Institute of Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Argentina
Zulfi Bhutta
Division of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Ann Blanc
Population Council, USA
Scientific Sub-Committee
Kabir Abdullahi
Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, Nigeria
Bukky Adesina
University of Ibadan Medical College, Nigeria
Priya Agrawal
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
Nabeela Ali
Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns, Pakistan
Anne Austin
Maternal Health Task Force, USA
See the entire list of scientific sub-committee members here >>
Conference Evaluation
GMHC2013 brought together over 700 delegates representing 59 nationalities, including substantial contingents from Tanzania (16 percent), India (10 percent), Bangladesh (7 percent), Nigeria (6 percent), Kenya (4 percent) and Ethiopia (3 percent). Delegates represented government, academic and non-governmental institutions working to improve the quality of maternal health services in over 127 countries. Delegates included clinicians, donors, policy makers, master trainers, researchers, students and program specialists.
Following an open process for submitting abstracts, the conference’s Scientific Sub-Committee reviewed and evaluated submissions, and only authors of abstracts ranked very highly were invited to register for the conference. This abstract-driven approach attracted 1500 submissions—tripling the number of submissions for the first GMHC, in 2010—a fact which reflects the vitality and diversity of the maternal health community. Moreover, nearly half of the presenters received scholarships to attend.