In Senegal and throughout West Africa, deeply-rooted social norms are meant to protect and support a woman and her child throughout her pregnancy and after the birth. Unfortunately, these beliefs can also put the mother and child's health at risk.

In addition to watching my brothers and sisters die, I was worried that my mother would end up like the other women I saw carried to the graveyard after perishing during childbirth. I am lucky that my mother survived, and my family's story, while very sad, is all too common in Afghanistan.

Investing in the health of girls and women is a solution to every development problem. Focusing on this key issue will alleviate poverty, stabilize societies, spur economies and advance the well-being of families, communities, and ultimately, our world overall.

So often in hearing the stories of women in my research I get a sense of mothers living on the ledge of their lives--out there all alone, sleep depriv...

Maternity care and mental health care are both lacking in our otherwise incredibly developed nation. Combine these two and you have the perfect storm...

While their circumstances are all very different, one theme has been present in every country I've visited -- the undeniable role nurses play in maintaining the health and well-being of their communities.

A few examples of simple, affordable innovations that have already saved millions of lives include bed nets to protect against mosquitos that transmit malaria, oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc to prevent dehydration caused by diarrhea, and low doses of antibiotics to treat pneumonia.

The Modification in Mother-Baby Statistics Initiative seeks to use mobile technology to deliver prenatal services to women who have no access to care, thereby saving their lives and the lives of their babies. It is an Ode to Ma...my contribution, my way of paying homage to moms everywhere.

While International Women's Day is a day for us to remember the many achievements and advancements for women around the world, it is also a day to remember how far we still need to go, particularly when it comes to improving health care services for mothers and their babies.

They have no shelter, no kitchen, no toilets, no bathing facilities. They must fend off animals and criminals. These physical and psychological stresses create a great deal of suffering just before the intensely physical demands of childbirth and subsequent care of a newborn.

As 2012 comes to a close, it's time to celebrate progress by looking back at some of the most memorable milestones and events of the past year.

Artists, by nature of their innate passion and talent for inspiring audiences, can empower a local community in ways that others can't... They can say more with their songs and art than any of us can say with a simple Tweet or Facebook post.

Though postpartum depression is discussed, reported, assessed, and treated, the stigma and confusion around embracing one's difficult feelings as a nascent mother is of grave concern.

I'm shocked that the basic comforts I will have as a mother are unknown in many parts of the world. Childbirth should be a time of simple happiness for a mother, but for millions of women, pregnancy and childbirth are life-threatening.

In New York City, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) convened a meeting to present key findings of three new publications examining progress on commitments made to improving women's and children's health.

Euphemia holds her daughter, Medo, who was born HIV-negative, because she took special precautions to protect the child. Soon after Euphemia married, she discovered something her husband hadn't told her.

In fact, every 90 seconds a young woman dies unnecessarily when she is giving life. More than 90 percent of these deaths could be avoided, if all women had timely access to good quality care.

The White Ribbon Alliance is bringing real and rapid change across Africa and Asia; holding governments accountable for pledges made and helping to release government funds, and ensure these are spent properly so that thousands of lives are saved.

Healthy mothers have a powerful ripple effect. To save a mother is to save a family. And to save a family is to lay the foundation for stronger communities and more stable nations.

The past two years have been significant for women's and children's health for many reasons. The unprecedented global momentum towards saving the lives of 16 million women and children is among the most remarkable.

We must seize this unprecedented global movement to improve policy and services on the ground for the most vulnerable women and children. Because when you take care of women, women take care of their children and indeed the whole world.

Seek information. Talk about your fears in your immediate social circle. Read information enriched blogs. No woman or baby should have to undergo suffering because of lack of information or awareness.

When a mother survives, her children thrive. They are more likely to be vaccinated, eat properly, attend school and become productive members of their community, thereby making countries more secure and our world a better place.

We applaud the efforts of these leaders, as we envision a future in which the world's most marginalized children receive the same life-saving interventions as our own. Now we must find the political will and determination to make this a reality.

While great strides in child survival have been made in the past years, we also remember those children who do not live to see their fifth birthday -- the 7.6 million children who die of preventable causes each year.