Maternal Health Care

The traditional birth attendant lacks formal training. She lacks medical supplies such as iron supplements and delivery kits. In the past three years, though, the traditional birth attendant has lost only one woman and two babies during delivery.

There are no functional birthing centers in Dolpa. Most health posts consist of an empty room, while some of them have rudimentary equipment it is often in dismal condition.

Where there is no Internet to get information about pregnancy, no doctors to make prenatal appointments, the birthing process is no longer a period of excitement but one of fear, uncertainty and sometimes near-death experiences.

Millions of kids can now "look up" to Jeremy Lin for his accomplishments. If we grasp the opportunity to act on their behalf by getting the proper nutrition into their young lives, maybe more of us can look up to them someday?

Maternal health is one of the most pressing issues in developing countries. One of the worst cases is the Central African Republic, a country that is little understood and rarely visited.

It's time we all step up our efforts to ensure that women everywhere can decide freely if and when they want to have children, that all mothers can deliver their babies safely and services are available for women who have suffered violence.

Last week, Good Morning America unveiled the dozen semi-finalists on our Million Moms Challenge Facebook contest page. Now we're asking America to decide who advances in the contest.

You may be shocked to learn that the United States is 50th in the world in terms of how well it provides its citizens with maternal health care. It has dropped from a previous ranking of 41st, trailing Canada and a host of European countries.