Maternal and child health

In our country, the birth of a child is generally a source of joy. However, it is a different story in a lot of countries where Handicap International works. The figures are shocking: around the world 380,000 women die in childbirth every year, and only 1% of these women are in western countries. In addition, every year 7.6 million children under the age of five die, of which four million do not live beyond their first month. According to some reports, for each woman who dies giving birth, 30 others are left physically traumatised or disabled as a result of childbirth.

Many of these physical disabilities could be avoided or limited if better aftercare were provided for the mother and her baby. This is why Handicap International has been implementing projects aimed at preventing disability in mothers and young children since 2006. The projects include training for midwifes, screening for disability in children, and help for women suffering from fistula.