International Women’s Day: Supporting lifesaving care for women and girls

Every two minutes, a woman dies from complications of pregnancy or childbirth. Most of these deaths would be preventable with timely care — but timely care can be difficult to access in in places where violence, poverty, insecurity, and other obstacles can delay access or push it out of reach. For a pregnant woman with complications like eclampsia or hemorrhage, this can be life-threatening.  

In Nigeria, MSF teams use a decentralized approach to reach and screen pregnant women, so high-risk pregnancies can be referred for specialized care before they deliver. Through our network of drivers, patients in remote areas are transported through rough terrain by motorcycle. 

Common causes of maternal death include postpartum hemorrhage, reproductive tract infections, eclampsia, complications from unsafe abortion practices, obstructed labor, and serious infectious diseases. Unsafe abortion — one that’s carried out by someone who does not have the necessary skills to perform it or does not comply with medical standards — is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, often resulting in severe and life-threatening complications.  

Most victims of sexual violence are women and children. Survivors face potentially serious and lifelong health consequences, including physical injury, severe psychological distress, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV.  

Survivors also face numerous barriers that prevent them from accessing care in a timely manner, such as fear of stigma, financial difficulties, violence, and lack of information. These and other barriers can result in delayed care and harmful medical consequences. By the time many survivors seek care, it’s too late to prevent HIV transmission or unwanted pregnancy.

In some places with high levels of sexual violence — like Haiti and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — our projects have dedicated services for sexual violence victims. In all cases, we offer a comprehensive package of care, including medical treatment of injuries, preventive interventions, and psychosocial care.

People of all genders are affected by HIV, but in many of the places where MSF works, women are at higher risk of contracting and suffering from the disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, 63 percent of new HIV infections are in women. Women with HIV must also worry about transmitting the virus to their children. Over 90 percent of children who contract HIV were infected by their mothers during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.

In Zimbabwe, MSF runs a peer educator program to reach young women who are sex workers with information about HIV prevention and how to access care. In a setting where stigma can too often discourage young women from accessing this care, the peer educator model fosters trust. 

Cervical cancer is preventable and treatable, yet it’s the deadliest form of cancer for women in many low- and middle-income countries. When screening and treatment are unaffordable and out of reach, many women do not seek care until the disease becomes advanced. Learn how MSF is pioneering screening and treatment for cervical cancer in low-resource settings.

In Malawi, MSF runs a cervical cancer project in partnership with the Ministry of Health in Blantyre. The project focuses on providing effective, feasible, and high-impact care through a comprehensive program entailing screening, consultations, specialized surgery, and palliative care for advanced-stage patients.