What are the health needs and challenges?

Midwives are lacking in many countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, where there are only 42% of the world’s 300,000 skilled birth attendants to deliver 78% of global births. It is estimated that there is a need for twice the number as each year 5.5 million women and newborns die in developping countries. Most of these deaths would be preventable if these often poor and isolated women had access to services close to their homes, provided by better-trained and better equipped midwives.

Partnership activities and how they address needs and challenges

To improve Maternal and Neonatal health in developing countries, the Sanofi Espoir Foundation has chosen to support projects that aim to deliver better access to care for every mother and newborn child, through the Midwives For Life initiative. These projects are geared to increasing the number and skills of midwives by improving their training, promoting the vital role they play in everyday life, and helping them work in areas where needs are greatest, particularly rural areas. The programs boost networking between midwives and other health and community workers at town or regional level, and ensure that these partners all share resources and expertise to deliver the best possible aid for mothers and their babies.

Each program is based on a strong community spirit to boost education and prevention among families.