Many of the perils of childbirth have diminished to rarities in developed countries. Mothers in developing countries, on the other hand, regularly experience the dangers of childbirth and even prenatal care. The USAID program Saving Mothers Giving Life (SMGL) is trying to change that reality, starting in Zambia. The program provides travel vouchers to expecting mothers so they can reach maternal and prenatal care quickly. Without a travel voucher, a pregnant woman in rural Zambia may face a 5 hour walk to the nearest healthcare facility. Obstacles such as timely care in emergencies influence the increasing maternal mortality rate of Zambia. Where SMGL’s voucher program operates, however, maternal mortality decreased by 35%. That is only the beginning.
(Map of Zambia from Wikicommons)
Read more at The Christian Science Monitor: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2014/0109/How-a-simple-travel-voucher-is-saving-the-lives-of-pregnant-African-women
