From 4th April, BBC World Service radio is broadcasting a two-part special in its program 'Health Matters' on maternal and child health. The program is timed to coincide with the WHO World Health Day on 7th April with the theme of "Make every mother and child count."

The program discusses the reasons why 500,000 women a year die of pregnancy related complications, how they could easily be saved, and the social and economic benefits of doing so.

One critical point that is highlighted is the lack of advocacy and support for safe motherhood since women who die of pregnancy related causes tend to do so rather quickly compared to, for example, people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

The program with its in-depth interviews can be heard online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/
programmes/health_matters.shtml