“Every generation, 10 million women die from complications related to pregnancy. The global Church has resources that can decrease that staggering number,” said Suzanah Raffield. Raffield attended the international conference, Women Deliver held in London, England October 18 – 20. She was one of more than 1,500 delegates. Registrations included 105 countries.

Designed to serve as a global call to action surrounding the need for a world wide increase in maternal health, Women Deliver marked the 20th anniversary of the historic 1987 launch of the Safe Motherhood Initiative held in Nairobi, Kenya.

20 years later maternal mortality statistics remain unacceptably high. The World Health Organization estimates that every minute a woman dies from a pregnancy related cause. The September 2006 edition of The Lancet states that, “Maternal mortality could be cut by nearly three-quarters by improving women’s access to comprehensive reproductive health services . . .” Pregnant women need skilled birthing attendants who are capable of handling obstetric emergencies. Adequate medical facilities and the means to get to those facilities are also crucial.

According to the Women Deliver website, “One in six Afghan women will die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. One in . . . 29,800 [women will die] in Sweden.” The imbalance of statistics showcases the ability to save women’s lives and the failure to do so.

“334,000 midwives are needed right now,” said Thoraya Obaid Executive Director of the UNFPA. As stated by the World Health Organization, a midwife is included in the definition of a skilled birthing attendant and only 57% of women world wide give birth with a skilled attendant present.

Obaid moderated the workshop, Faith Based Organizations and Maternal Mortality. She expressed the need to work with faith based organizations and not against them. “We must be about the building of capacity to trust one another,” she said.

In August Suzanah Raffield became the Global Minister in Residence at Covenant Community Church in Elba, AL. As a minister she believes in using the existing network of Churches world wide in the push to decrease maternal mortality.

The World Council of Churches reports being affiliated with approximately 114 denominations throughout the continent of Africa. Under WCC membership guidelines, that equates to an estimated 2,775,000 individual congregations. The 2006 Baptist World Alliance yearbook reports 157,921 member churches of the BWA.

“Statistics show that skilled birthing attendants and access to adequate medical facilities can save the lives of mothers and infants,” said Raffield. “What if we used our global network to ensure that every church in the world trained and sponsored at least one skilled birthing attendant?”

Post partum hemorrhaging, infections resulting from unsafe abortions, hypertensive disorders, and obstructed labor are some of the most common causes of maternal death as found on the UNFPA website. Care International President Helene Gayle said, “What we really mean when we say post partum hemorrhage is that women are bleeding to death.”

Covenant Community Church in Elba, AL is creating a maternal health initiative that combines the efforts of churches and individuals to reduce maternal mortality.

For more information on how you or your church can be involved in the maternal health initiative contact suzanah@discovercovenant.com, 334-897-2288.