The Issues

Cambodia’s maternal mortality is among the highest in the region.
In comparison with women of neighboring countries, Cambodian women face a relatively high risk of dying from pregnancy & childbirth-related causes of approximately 2000 deaths each year with estimated Maternal Mortality Rate of 540 per 100,000 live births and a life expectancy of 58 years-old.

Maternal mortality rate is one of the most important indicators of women’s health reflecting the access to, and the availability of health services, the women’s education and belief, the lack of transport,  the access to clean water supply, the nutrition status, the preventive services, the low level attention given to and the low value placed on women’s health.

As also reported in the book “A Fair Share for Women”, the infant mortality rate of 95 per 1000 live births can reflects the close relationship between “Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby”.

Antenatal care, safe delivery and postpartum care are very important components of health services to save mothers’ lives.

The approach to solutions here is to set up of a center that assists Cambodian mothers in receiving comprehensive services for the care of themselves and their babies. There are government services but they are not sufficient in number and most of the time Cambodian mothers have to turn to private clinics they can’t afford.

Maternal mortality statistics (Word document)

Killing Fields Remediation Healing Cambodia

Rural midwife training - handing out of certificates