As we celebrate Mother's Day this weekend , spare a thought for mothers in our neighbouring countries where giving birth can be difficult and dangerous due to lack of access to health services and support. Services we take for granted in Australia.
Bangladesh has made impressive progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals on maternal and child health, but preventable deaths of mothers, newborns and children under five are still happening. Improving access to services for Bangladesh's most vulnerable is one of the keys to better development outcomes.
Through its strategic partnership with BRAC, the world's largest NGO, Australia and the UK are supporting early intervention activities to build on Bangladesh's past success. We are working together to ensure that mothers and babies have a good start in life.
At the community level BRAC, with its network of about 60,000 female community health workers and volunteers, is linking women in Bangladesh's urban slum areas with skilled birth attendants and helping them to plan their pregnancy and labour. An important aspect of this work is linking new mothers with government services, including emergency obstetric and newborn care services.
In the video below, garment worker Provati is preparing for the birth of her second child. A BRAC community health worker visits to discuss the birth and give her a health check. Regular meetings at the BRAC Delivery Centre help expectant mothers to prepare for the birth and put them in touch with emergency services if there are risks, or if a problem arises during the birth.
With Australia's support for programs such as BRAC's community health networks, more women can look forward to a safe birth and healthy babies.