“More than half a million women die each year from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth – one every minute." The vast majority of women who die are poor and come from developing countries, such as Burkina Faso, where more than 2,000 women die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Women suffer from lack of information on sexual and reproductive health and rights including on abortion, low status in law and social practice permitting early marriages, which undermines their right to decide whether, when and how many children to have, and the cost and quality of medical treatment is also a major threat.

In 2006 the government adopted a policy to subsidize the cost of maternal care by 80% and to give free care to women in extreme poverty. As a result, the number of trained medical personnel has increased, primary health care centres have been built throughout the country, and a national strategy for family planning has been adopted.

However, these policies still suffer from major flaws in their implementation. Maternal health services are still not available and accessible to all the women that need them. Many women are reluctant to go to health facilities to give birth, since many health facilities are unhygienic and understaffed, with medical personnel who often demand money and sometimes treat them disrespectfully.

The high rate of maternal deaths in Burkina Faso shows that women are being denied their right to health, a right enshrined in international and national law, a right that every state is obliged to respect, protect and fulfil. When women die in pregnancy or childbirth because the government fails to address preventable causes of maternal death, the government violates women’s right to life.

In light of the upcoming International Women's Day, AIHK would like to take this opportunity to urge the government of Burkina Faso to improve maternal health and to protect women's right to life.

ACT NOW!

In order to raise awareness on maternal mortality, Burkina Faso in particular, AIHK will be organizing a postcard campaign and a street stunt to urge the government in Burkina Faso to uphold sexual and reproductive rights and to improve maternal health.

Click here to sign up for the event.