NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR MATERNAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS NAMHHR E-Newsletter Issue-7 (June- October 2012)

Upcoming Events 5th -7th Nov12: NAMHHR Capacity Building workshop on MDR tool in Lucknow 17th-19th Dec12: NAMHHR follow up Capacity Building workshop on MDR tool in Delhi Alliance Building NAMHHR collaborated with Commonhealth to organize a capacity building workshop on MDR from October 1014th in Delhi. Please read more onhttp://namhhr.blogspot .in/2012/11/capacitys building-workshop-onmaternal.html NAMHHR welcome its new members: Sansristi, Odisha SEWA Rural, Gujarat Dr. Prabir Chatterjee NAMHHR Steering Committee Meetings Organized NAMHHR Steering Committee Conference Call on 7June12

Action on cases of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity NAMHHR organized an Advocacy SeminarChronicles of Deaths Foretold on 8th-9th Oct12 where civil society activists from 12 states came together on a common platform to have a dialogue with the government and technical experts. The dialogue brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, technical agencies like WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and donors. Please read more on http://namhhr.blogspot.in/2012/11/chronicles-of-deaths-foretold.html NAMHHR had a meeting with MOHFW officials regarding MDR on 23 rd Aug12.The officials showed their keen interest to work together with CSOs to strengthen MDR in various states. NAMHHR has sent a list of local CSOs to the ministry who are willing to undertake Sentinel Surveillance and conduct CBMDR in selected sites in cooperation with local health functionaries. In order to facilitate civil society participation in state level MDR committees, another list of experienced and expert civil society members was also submitted to the MOHFW. NAMHHR organized a planning meeting on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity in Jharkhand regarding Godda Maternal Deaths on 4th August in Ranchi. Please read more on http://namhhr.blogspot.in/2012/11/civil-society-meeting-maternal.html.

Right to Maternal Nutrition and Maternity Benefits

NAMHHR organised an event to share the findings of its study- Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana(IGMSY) and launch its report- The Crisis of Maternity: A Compilation of two studies on Healthcare and Maternity Protection for Women Wage Workers in the Informal Sector in India on 19th September in New Delhi. The book was launched by Dr. Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission. Please read more on http://namhhr.blogspot.in/2012/11/indiragandhi-matritva-sahyog-yojana_2.html

Consultations and Conferences attended by NAMHHR members 4th -5th June12,Delhi:National Consultation on ARSH supported by the Ford Foundation as a part of its Youth Sexuality, Reproductive Health and Rights Initiative to disseminate their study on ARSH. 9th Aug12, Delhi: High Level Expert group on Universal Health Coverage organized by PHFI. 14th Sept 12,Delhi:Conference of State Ministers and State Secretaries incharge of WCD 29th Sept 12:Meeting organized by JSA for planning on National convention on NO to corporatisation and privatization of health care; YES to Right to health for all based on a public centred health 2nd-3rdJune12, Chennai: Dead Women Talking jointly organized by CHAD, CMC, Vellore, CommonHealth and Sama to share the experience of documenting cases of maternal mortality from different parts of the country & develop a comprehensive MDR tool.

NAMHHR E- Newsletter Issue-7(June-October 2012)

Updates from Partners:

Jaya Velankar attended regional training on the Universal Periodic Review Process of the Human Rights Council, in Fiji from 11-14 June 2012. JAN SAHAS received the M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award 2012 for their enormous work in the area of protecting and ensuring human dignity to the manual scavengers, the Dalits & the landless & fighting for the rights of these social group on 10thAug12. NAMHHR partner CHETNA organized a National Consultation on Safeguarding Nutrition and Health Rights of Women, Young People and Children" on 23rd August at New Delhi.

Recent Resources on Maternal Health:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has made a report -Technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality. The aim of the report is to assist policymakers in improving womens health and rights by providing guidance on implementing policies and programmes to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in accordance with human rights standards. http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/Reg ularSession/Session21/A-HRC-21-22_en.pdf A study by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in collaboration with the UK-based London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Aberdeen to understand the womens level of satisfaction with the health services is critical for improving the quality of service, says http://www.immpactinternational.org/uploads/files/Women_ _s%20quality%20perception%20Study.pdf The Crisis of Maternity :Healthcare and Maternity Protection for Women Wage Workers in the Informal Sector in India -A Compilation of Two National Studies Informal Sector Women Wage Labourershttp:/www.sahayogindia.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/08/T he-Crisis-of-Maternity.pdf

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