Pregnant and Vulnerable: Meeting the Needs of Women in Haiti

Even before the earthquake, Haiti had the highest maternal mortality rate in the Western hemisphere. Now with the shattered healthcare system, the risks are even higher.

Among the 3 million people affected by the earthquake in Haiti, an estimated 63,000 are pregnant women, and 7,000 of them are expected to deliver in the coming month. Women are giving birth in the streets unattended and even those who make it to maternity wards, some of which are open-air, face a shortage of doctors, nurses and medical supplies.

While we have all heard about the horrible injuries that survivors are suffering from, one of the less visible issues that doctors and relief workers on the ground are dealing with is complicated births. Research shows that 15% of all pregnancies will result in complications that require medical care. One of UNFPA's top priorities is saving the lives of women and newborns.

Read the full article on The Huffington Post