10 Years of Action to Save Women’s Lives in India

Apr. 17, 2009—On April 11, National Safe Motherhood Day in India, CEDPA celebrated 10 years of work with the White Ribbon Alliance in India to save the lives of mothers and their children.

CEDPA is the elected secretariat of the White Ribbon Alliance in India, a partnership of 1,500 organizations working to bring critical attention and action to the women who are dying needlessly from complications during pregnancy and childbirth in that country. India accounts for more than 20 percent of maternal and child deaths globally.

CEDPA and the alliance have made significant strides in the way Indian women are treated throughout pregnancy and childbirth through improved policy changes, greater public awareness of safe motherhood, and technical assistance and training to health personnel over the past decade.

Thanks to a close collaboration with the Indian government, more women are receiving emergency care through auxiliary nurse midwives, who are now allowed to administer life-saving drugs when complications arise during childbirth. Previously, Indian law banned midwives from this kind of medical intervention.

In 2002, the organizations developed and disseminated “how to” guidelines for government and health staff to be used in maternal health programs. Building on that relationship, CEDPA and the White Ribbon Alliance in India developed a best practices guide and training program for nurse midwives at the request of the government.

In 2001, WRAI received world-wide attention for its first major event to catalyze action to prevent needless maternal deaths – the march to the Taj Mahal in Agra.

CEDPA and the White Ribbon Alliance in India also work to raise public awareness about safe motherhood. The alliance recruits celebrities and government officials to become maternal health champions. Film stars, singers and journalists have joined in public events such as concerts, rallies and marches that have resulted in media coverage throughout the country. In 2001, hundreds participated in a march on the Taj Mahal to publicize India’s Safe Motherhood Day.

This year, CEDPA/India’s Aparajita Gogoi (pictured above), who serves as the national coordinator for White Ribbon Alliance in India, announced a new award for maternal health media coverage. The award will recognize two compelling and investigative print articles that highlight the rights of women to quality maternal health care. CEDPA has developed a toolkit for reporters to improve their coverage of maternal health issues, and provides ongoing trainings for journalists.

Read more about CEDPA’s work in India and on safe motherhood.

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