Millennium Goal 5

Abstract

Millennium Development Goal 5 incorporates targets related to improving maternal mortality in resource poor countries with universal access to reproductive healthcare. The complex interrelationship between causation and solution of these problems is expounded together with strategies of care. Healthcare modelling based on the provision of skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care facilities will reduce the terrible tragedy of maternal mortality. Currently 500,000 women die annually in childbirth, and the majority of these deaths are avoidable. The large majority occur in resource poor countries. With the current slow progress, it is unlikely that the necessary improvement will be achieved by 2015. Major initiatives aimed at education, increasing workforce and improving local facilities and availability of drugs will help. The solutions are simple, but progress requires political desire.