Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Global Maternal and Child Health

From the earliest of times, health of the mother and her child have been recognized as a major determinant of socioeconomic advancement and a progressive economy. However, contrary to this basic need of a nation, negative drivers exist in all societies which adversely affect the health of this potentially vulnerable section of the population.

Better Maternal & Child Health (MCH) is a continuous global need rather than being thought of primarily as a discipline focused on the developing world. Evidence-based best practices in maternal and child health (MCH) have transformed this conventional discipline into an interdisciplinary profession, creating a need for specialized public health professionals who are trained to focus on the holistic wellbeing of the mother and the child.

In a true global context Maternal and child health service can be defined as “promoting, preventing, therapeutic or rehabilitation facility or care for the mother and child” focused and tailored towards the specific need of the geographic region, recognizing the heterogeneous nature of the human population and wide range of associated outcomes.

The health of mothers and children is paramount in creating a healthy world. Despite considerable advancements in medical knowledge there are still women and children dying from preventable or treatable conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Current CDC data reveals that still approximately 800 women die every day due to preventable or treatable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. 99% of this maternal mortality is in the developing parts of the world. WHO data for the year 2015 revealed that approximately 303,000 women died due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. In 2015 approximately 5.9 million children under five years died and 45% of these deaths occurred in the first 28 days of life.