Discussion Highlights

• Globally only 9% reduction in maternal mortality rate. Some of the worst-performing countries on MDG 5 are PNG, Timor Leste, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh
• Only 35% women in Asia Pacific give birth with a skilled birth attendant

Contributing factors:

• – Delay in seeking treatment
• – Access to health services
• – Quality of treatment and staffing
• – ‘myths’ about certain treatments/services- need to “shift the story”

Challenges of an Alliance on MDG 5

• – Different religious and cultural responses to reproductive health
• – Engaging men in advocating for maternal and reproductive health
• – Ensuring that there is political will at different levels of leadership
• – Communication within a large alliance

Opportunities of an Alliance:

• Collective influence at all levels- regional, national, local levels
• Great potential and reach to work with young people- girls and boys through our networks
• Create space for sharing information and learnings eg replicable models

Key Priority Issues of an Asia Pacific Alliance:

• Advocacy at all levels: local, national, regional and with donors. Help empower women in Asia Pacific raise their voices on maternal health, provide platforms for personal stories and build cadre of role models.
• Focus on faith communities and education/awareness around maternal health, and women’s access to decision-making. Harness existing faith structures and institutions.
• Advocate to improve aid effectiveness and implementation around maternal health- where aid is directed and how implemented eg PNG

Recommendations

Build political will around MDG 5 (like example of HIV/AIDs) taking a rights based and gender based approach

Recommendations for Practical Actions:

• Build advocacy capacity by equipping and training civil society in technical issues and lobbying skills- transforming men and women into advocates
• Develop repository of information and resources, and assess political context of each country situation through partnering with governments where possible
• Mass communication strategies-Encourage local leaders, men and women to deliver health messages and model behaviour change in their communities. Identify local champions and use creative media channels eg radio
• Make the case to national decision-makers/government eg economists- economic analysis of costs and benefits/return of investment for maternal health.
• Build a cadre of ambassadors and spokespersons for maternal health from corporate sector and popular public figures