Article Of The Week

Amnesty International Releases Report on Maternal Mortality in Burkina Faso

As part of their Demand Dignity campaign, Amnesty International has been researching the state of maternal health in Burkina Faso for over two years. Earlier today, the organization released a report, Giving Life, Risking Death: Maternal Mortality in Burkina Faso. The 126-page report examines maternal mortality in Burkina Faso as a violation of the right to health and life—and presents recommendations to the government, the international community and donors.

“More than 2,000 women die in Burkina Faso every year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Some die because they cannot reach a suitable health facility or because their relatives cannot pay the fees demanded. Others die because of shortages – of blood, drugs, equipment or qualified medical staff. Maternal mortality takes its toll on the poorest and least educated women. Amnesty International calls for better information and services for family planning, for the removal of financial barriers to maternal health care and for improvements in access to care.”

To learn more about this report, click here.

The full report can be accessed here.

For the fact sheet, click here.

For information on the Amnesty International caravan campaign on maternal mortality in Burkina Faso (also launched today), click here.