More women frontline healthcare workers would reduce maternal and child mortality

Investing in more frontline women health workers could help save the lives of the millions of mothers and children across the developing world every year, says a report from Save the Children.

The State of the World’s Mothers 2010 report, which ranks 160 countries in terms of their maternal and child health indicators, points out that 99% of child and maternal deaths occur in developing countries “where mothers and children lack access to basic healthcare services.” Norway tops the ranking, and Afghanistan comes last.

The charity estimates that 250 000 women’s lives and 5.5 million children’s lives could be saved each year if all …