Help stop maternal mortality in Africa

We have encouraging news about our project distributing misoprostol tablets to pregnant women at antenatal care (ANC) visits in Tanzania. Since the project began in January 2009, nearly 4,000 expectant mothers have received misoprostol tablets to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth, or postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).

One woman who received misoprostol said she felt comfort and security knowing she had the life-saving tablets so she could protect herself no matter where she delivered. This woman works in a field five kilometers from the health center, and when she went into labor she began walking toward the health center, bringing her misoprostol tablets and telling her escorts she needed to take them after delivery. She gave birth on the side of the road and took the tablets there to prevent PPH.

Educating expectant mothers on how to prepare for safe childbirth and distributing misoprostol tablets during ANC arms them with a means of protecting themselves against PPH. A traditional midwife educated through our project said that misoprostol gives women a sense of security and makes it easier for them to enjoy their delivery experience – a moment often overshadowed by fear of dying.

This project is just one of our ongoing efforts to make misoprostol for PPH management available to women through health centers and markets in Tanzania. We are grateful to generous donors who share our commitment to reducing unnecessary maternal deaths.