But, for hundreds of thousands of women worldwide, this gratitude only goes so far, the UN World Population Organization (UNFPA) said on the occasion of Mother’s Day, observed on Sundays throughout May.
According to recently released data, a woman dies from pregnancy or childbirth every two minutes, with most of these deaths due to preventing causes such as bleeding and infectionThe UN Center for Reproductive Health said.
What’s worse, solutions to these problems have been around for years; but they asked immediate investment in the family system and for the opportunity to face its cuts shortage of midwivesUNFPA reports two-thirds of all maternal and newborn deaths can be prevented.
“We have the tools, knowledge and resources to end preventable maternal deaths; what we need now is political will” said UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem.
This is why mothers need support now more than ever.
Maternal deaths are at crisis levels
Between 2000 and 2015, maternal mortality worldwide decreased by more than a third, but the rate of decline has been stagnant across many regions and even reversed in others, UNFPA reported.
This has resulted in a A staggering 287,000 maternal deaths in 2020 – the amount of death that will dominate the headlines if it is linked to a natural disaster or other crisis, the company shows.
“It is unacceptable that many women continue to die needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth. More than 280,000 deaths a year go unnoticed,” said the head of UNFPA. “We can and must do better.”
UNFPA State of the World Population Report.
Death of options
More often than not, women and girls don’t have to make the decision to get pregnant, UNFPA says.
Four in ten women who partner across 68 countries are confident powerful to exert agency when it comes to health, sex or contraceptives. Meanwhile, some data suggest rape-related pregnancies occur at least as often as pregnancies resulting from consensual sex.
These factors and others drive it forget the global crisisin which nearly half of all pregnancies around the world are unintended, leading to serious negative consequences for many of those involved, the agency said.
Complications from pregnancy and childbirth can be fatal, especially for adolescents and girls, UNFPA said, noting that An estimated half a million births are among girls aged 10-14 in 2021, making hundreds of thousands of mothers while still in childhood.
The alarming number of unintended pregnancies represents the global failure to uphold the basic human rights of women and girls,” said Ms. Kanem.
Give hope to a mother in need this Mother’s Day
Favorites don’t care
In November 2022, the world’s population will hit eight billion. While some met this news with enthusiasm for the improvements in health care and poverty reduction that have led to this landmark period, others wring their hands, worried about how “too many” or “few” people are. made available on the ground, according to UNFPA. .
This line of thinking places women in a position to be the solutions to those the problem of population expansion – a dangerous sheep. Historically, this concept has led to forced labor practices designed to affect women’s fertility, which jeopardizes their rights while denying their desires, the agency said.
According to UNFPA’s 2023 State of the World Population Report, 8 Billion Strong, many women want larger or smaller families than they achieve.
Across many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, for example, women report having two or more births on average, while most childless women in Japan report they want children.
Furthermore, in small and prosperous countries, as few as one in four women know how they want to have children, the report shows.
“What women and mothers want when it comes to their fertility,” the agency said. “Unfortunately, too often, no one asks.”
A procession of mothers carrying their newly born daughters to plant trees during their birthday celebrations.
Start with gender equality
Preventable maternal mortality, denial of rights or demographic change, can all be addressed by making the world a more gender-equal place.
Of course, this is easier said than done, but the role of gender inequality at the base of many other issues, including those mentioned above, must be recognized, the agency said.
What is gender inequality? keeping women out of the workforce and schoolsis vulnerable to conflict and violence, and denies them the right to make decisions about themselves and their health, the agency said, and is also what makes pregnancy a dangerous endeavorwhich millions of women do not survive.
“This Mother’s Day, it means when you say thank you to the mother figures in your life by working to save their lives. They will thank you in turn by thriving” said UNFPA.
