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Saving Women and Children’s Lives in India   
Sep. 8, 2008—More women in India die during pregnancy and childbirth than in any other country in the world, a number that accounts for 20 percent of the world’s maternal deaths. This means that one woman in India dies every seven minutes trying to bring a new life into the world. Sadly, the majority of these deaths can be prevented though access to skilled attendants and emergency obstetric care facilities and supplies. The high rates of maternal death, coupled with inadequate health services and poor nutrition, also contribute to high numbers of infant and child mortality. And malnutrition, which plays as an underlying role in child and maternal health, is associated with more than 50 percent of infant deaths. At least two-thirds of the 1.5 million children in India who die before their first birthday could be saved through simple, low-cost interventions. With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a new consortium of global organizations is working to save the lives of women and children in India by building capacity within the country to improve policies, programs and resources in the areas of maternal, neonatal and child health, and nutrition. The Maternal and Child Health Sustainable Technical Assistance and Research (MCH-STAR) program is a five-year, $13.8 million initiative that will strengthen the ability of Indian institutions to provide technical leadership through technical assistance, policy analyses, advocacy and research within the country. CEDPA is a partner in the initiative with the consortium leader, the Emerging Markets Group, and the Center for International Health and Development of Boston University. With mentoring and capacity building from this consortium, Indian institutions including the Population Foundation of India, Public Health Foundation of India and India Clinical Epidemiology Network will be better positioned to provide evidence-based technical assistance to the government of India as it advances the health of mothers and their children. Partners work closely with other stakeholders concerned with reducing maternal and child death and undernutrition within India to meet the goals of the National Rural Health Mission, Integrated Child Development Services, and the Reproductive and Child Health Program II.
In addition to its focus on national-level programs and policies, the MCH-STAR initiative will concentrate on northern Indian states such as Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, where the need for improved services is great. These states have some of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in India; Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for one-quarter of all child deaths in India. CEDPA brings its expertise and global experience in policy analysis and advocacy to the Initiative. CEDPA facilitated a four-day Policy Analysis Workshop for 25 participants in Delhi in July. Participants reviewed the legislative, national and state level policy making processes in India and examined maternal and child health policy examples from India and other countries. CEDPA-adapted tools enabled workshop participants to examine health and nutrition statistics and research reports, and identify issues that required advocacy and policy action. Participants then prepared short briefs targeted to policymakers on important issues related to maternal, neonatal and child health, and nutrition. The briefs served as bases for drafting outlines of white papers, with data gaps identified for further study in order to develop more specific and feasible policy recommendations. In August, CEDPA conducted a follow-up workshop with the participants on Evidence-Based Advocacy, focusing on key issues requiring policy action. Participants were oriented to the concept and practice of evidence-based advocacy to influence policy and steps in designing, implementing and monitoring an advocacy campaign. Armed with new skills, participants prepared advocacy action plans on prioritized issues. These action plans will be implemented by the participating institutions in partnership with existing coalitions concerned with the health of mothers and their children. The views expressed in this Web article do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.
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