Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Asia

Supporting the health resiliency of mothers, newborns and children.

The Current Situation

Asia, and particularly South East Asia, has made significant progress in maternal, newborn and child survival in the past two decades, yet in terms of absolute numbers, the preventable deaths of mothers, children and newborns remain unacceptably high. Almost all maternal deaths (99%) occur in developing countries. One third occur in South Asia. Most of these deaths are preventable with cost effective and simple interventions. The high number of maternal deaths often reflects inequities in access to health services, and highlights the gap between rich and poor.

Our Programs

Our Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programs in Asia aim to support the growth of our Sister Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies as dynamic and effective partners. Their strength is essential to meet the immense challenge of increasingly frequent and devastating disasters in Asia. We support our partners in Asia to implement programs that improve the health of women and children, reduce risks from disasters and help communities rebuild after conflict and disaster.

Current programs include:

• Pakistan
• Philippines

Previous programs include:

• India
• Sri Lanka
• China

Resources

Voice from the Field:  Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in the Swat Valley, Pakistan

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