Reasons to Retire the Skilled Birth Attendant Indicator and Proposed Alternatives
Posted onMonitoring the skilled birth attendant (SBA) indicator for the Millennium Development Goals did not demonstrate the expected outcomes. It appears that SBA did catalyze significant maternal mortality reductions, but not in the low-resource districts and nations where the greatest challenges lie. As Stephen Hodgins suggested in his recent blog post about the SBA indicator, we need to reassess its global utility and consider alternative measures…read more
Accountability for RMNCAH in India: The Critical Role of Civil Society
Posted onWith the 2015 launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health, and the Global Financing Facility, the world is poised to improve the survival, health, and wellbeing of women, children, and adolescents. In particular, making progress in India is crucial because it bears so much of the world’s burden of mortality and morbidity. Global and national goals, plans, and strategies are just the first step, however. The accountability mechanisms put in place to ensure that budgets, programs, and policies are implemented effectively and benefit the target communities are equally important. India can learn valuable lessons from examples of accountability mechanisms led by or involving civil society…read more
Addressing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Is Vital to Zika Response
Posted onNow affecting over a million people in 20 countries, the Zika epidemic in the Latin America and Caribbean region has engendered a complex scenario that must go beyond addressing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Due to the virus’ potential effects on newborns and developing fetuses, ranging from microcephaly to other congenital neurological abnormalities, sexual and reproductive health and rights are inseparable elements of the Zika response. A new commentary, co-authored by Ana Langer, Director of the Maternal Health Task Force, Jacquelyn Caglia, Associate Director, and Clara Menéndez, Director of the Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health Initiative at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, presents the Zika outbreak as a pivotal period that could either magnify the immense burden faced by many women, families, and children in these regions or serve as an opportunity to demand stronger health systems that deliver comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care…read more
Implementing the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist: Webinar June 15!
Posted onScientists at Ariadne Labs, a collaboration between Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, have had a leading role in the development, testing, implementation and spread of WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist around the world. Attend the webinar on June 15 to learn more about their experience implementing the Checklist in Namibia …read more