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.

•B uild a cadre of ambassadors and spokespersons for maternal health from corporate sector and popular public figures