Global Progress in Reducing Maternal Mortality

The number of women who are dying in pregnancy and childbirth is on the decline, according to new estimates released by the United Nations today.

Over the last 20 years, the number of annual maternal deaths has dropped by nearly 50%, falling from 543,000 in 1990 to 287,000 in 2010. This achievement is a testament to the global efforts undertaken to support mothers' health.

While global progress has been made, particularly in East Asia, many countries will not achieve Millennium Development Goal 5, which seeks to reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015. Most of these countries are in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The new estimates are developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and the World Bank.

Read the full report here. Also, learn more about how EngenderHealth supports maternal health programs around the world.

Top Tweets on #UNday!

On Oct. 24, we celebrated the 66th birthday of the United Nations, an important EngenderHealth partner and crucial supporter of lifesaving reproductive health programs worldwide. There was no cake (at least for EngenderHealth :)) but the conversation rocked! Check out our favorite tweets from #UNDay:

@StateDept
President Obama: The men and women who created @UN understood that peace is not simply the absence of war. http://go.usa.gov/XrT #UNDay

@WeCanEndPoverty
On Monday, UN Day, find out what you can do to help meet the Millennium Development Goals here: http://bit.ly/drl2ep #UN4U #7billion #MDGs

@UNfoundation
"The UN brings the world together to consider issues that affect all of the planet's human beings" - Sen. Wirth #UN4U

@AmbassadorRice
66 years after the #UN's founding Charter entered into force, it pays more than ever to share the burden of our common challenges. #UNDay

@USEmbassyAthens
On #UNDay, we join our 192 fellow member states in celebrating the founding ideals of the #UN Charter: http://go.usa.gov/XrT

@ICTYnews (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia)
The ICTY marks 2011 UN Day with no remaining fugitives and nearing successful completion of its mandate: http://ow.ly/786ON

@UNICLagos (United Nations Information Centre, Lagos)
On UN Day, Ban underlines need for unity to confront global challenges http://shar.es/bYAk4

@UNICEFLive
Happy #UN Day! Thanks for helping to build a better world where no one is left behind. http://bit.ly/psLyec #UN4U

@UNfoundation
Tomorrow is #UN Day! Check out this great interactive map with @unausa events happening around the country: http://ow.ly/76bp9

@EngenderHealth
Happy #UNday! Thnx to the entire #UN family for working to advance the welfare of #women and girls, esp in the field of #reprohealth. #MDG5

EngenderHealth Staff Member Joins Global Network of Men Leaders

On November 24, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon launched his Network of Men Leaders at the official observance of the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In addition to EngenderHealth's own Senior Technical Advisor Andrew Levack, members include Desmond Tutu, Paulo Coelho, and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (the prime minister of Spain). The Network will provide a platform for world leaders to advocate for and provide guidance and direction to end violence against women. Learn more.