Grantmaking in this area reflects a comprehensive approach to reproductive and sexual health and rights, one that places women's well-being at the center of population policy and emphasizes the rights of individuals to determine and plan family size. Through its offices in India, Mexico, and Nigeria, the Foundation makes grants that support efforts to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people in these three countries.
Responding to a proposal from Foundation grantees the Oaxaca, Chiapas and National Safe Motherhood Committees, Mexico's public health insurance program will now automatically enroll low-income pregnant women and assure them access to prenatal and delivery care free of charge. Previously, newborns from low-income families received automatic enrollment to Popular Insurance at birth, but women were required to pay fees to the public system for maternal health services. This prevented them from seeking proper prenatal, delivery and emergency care. President Felipe Calderon announced the measures in celebration of Mothers’ Day and in conjunction with Mexico’s efforts to achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goal Five, which seeks to reduce maternal deaths by 75 percent and achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015.
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