First international technical conference for maternal health development

From August 30 to September 1, more than 600 maternal health experts will gather in Delhi, India, for the Global Maternal Health Conference 2010, the first international technical conference devoted exclusively to maternal health. Hosted by the Maternal Health Task Force at EngenderHealth and the Public Health Foundation of India, the conference aims to increase consensus and coordination around the evidence, programs, and advocacy needed to advance maternal health. According to latest estimates, more than 342,000 women worldwide die due to preventable pregnancy or childbirth complications every year.

"We are bringing together health professionals, advocates, researchers, donors, policymakers, and others to coordinate efforts and leverage our collective resources so that we can eradicate preventable maternal deaths in our lifetimes," says Ann Blanc, Ph.D., Director of the Maternal Health Task Force at EngenderHealth. "This conference is the perfect venue to continue to accelerate the momentum toward achieving the UN Millennium Development Goal No. 5 (improve maternal health)."

Over the course of three days, the conference will focus on six major themes, which will be presented through plenaries, presentations, and posters, including:

• Existing, affordable interventions, specifically innovative technologies that are saving women's lives
• Underlying factors affecting maternal health, including nutrition, violence, gender equity
• Broader health system solutions, including task sharing and emergency referrals
• The role of policy and advocacy in advancing maternal health
• Leveraging the power of digital technology and new media to help women obtain emergency obstetric care and to collect vital health data

"The fact that we are holding the Conference in India is significant," according to Dr. Beena Varghese, Head, Research Development for the Public Health Foundation of India. "India in the past few years has made significant progress in reducing maternal deaths; however, more needs to be done, as this nation still accounts for a majority of maternal deaths globally every year. By hosting this summit in Delhi, India is demonstrating its commitment to improving maternal health within the country and beyond."

Individuals unable to attend in person in Delhi can access sessions through live streaming at: www.maternalhealthtaskforce.org/gmhc2010.