Mexico Announces New Strategy to Reduce Maternal Mortality

President Felipe Calderon of Mexico recently announced a new strategy to reduce maternal mortality based largely on a proposal written by the National Safe Motherhood Committee, a longtime MacArthur grantee. Under the strategy, Mexico’s three main public health providers will provide emergency obstetric care to all pregnant women free of charge. Previously, women could be rejected by one provider and referred to another, causing delays in receiving maternal health care. The Safe Motherhood Committee will monitor implementation of the measure to ensure compliance among the providers, the Mexican Social Security Institute, the Ministry of Health, and the State Workers Social Security Institute. The strategy will be launched in nine states, including the Foundation’s priority states of Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. Calderon made the announcement in conjunction with International Women’s Health Day on May 28.