Empowering Individuals and Strengthening Services for Women, Newborns, Children, and Adolescents

Each year, there are an estimated 4.5 million maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths and approximately 5 million deaths of children under the age of 5 years globally, due to largely preventable causes. Most of the maternal, newborn, and child deaths and stillbirths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Early pregnancies and childbirth are common among adolescents in LMICs, and associated complications are among the leading causes of death for girls aged 15–19 years.  

To address these preventable deaths and help women, newborns, children, and adolescents survive, thrive, and reach their full potential, MSH invests in quality, people-centered primary health care that brings essential health services closer to communities. Working at every level of the health system and across the public and private sectors, we support national and local partners to develop resilient health systems and cross-sectoral partnerships that improve health outcomes by enhancing access to and quality of integrated health services. We actively engage women and adolescents in the design and implementation of culturally respectful interventions that meet their needs and ensure good health throughout their lifetime. By leveraging proven tools to better support health care workers, we help strengthen patient experiences; promote continuous quality improvement; and bring lifesaving health innovations, like group antenatal and postnatal care, to scale.

Our work:

• Improves the competencies and resiliency of health care workers 
• Strengthens patient-provider relationships
• Employs positive youth development and human-centered design approaches
• Delivers essential services and quality standards across the continuum of care
• Offers peer support before, during, and after pregnancy