UNFPA Background Guide - National Model United Nations

country having a systematic method of keeping birth and death records in order to better
understand the issue in different countries.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2013). The Millennium Development Goals Report
2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013 from:
https://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/publications/2013/mdg-report-2013-english.pdf
In order to look at health priorities beyond 2015, it is crucial to understand what has and what
has not worked thus far on MDG 5. With a realistic understanding of restrictions on women’s
access to reproductive care found in this report, delegates will be able to propose new, informed
ideas for improving global maternal health both immediately and indefinitely. The latest MDG
report, the document provides excellent statistics that are both useful and sobering in terms of
evaluating the future of the issue of maternal health.
United Nations Population Fund. (2012). The Maternal Health Thematic Fund Contribution to UNFPA Support to
Maternal Health. Retrieved 1 July 2013 from:
http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/Evaluation_branch/Maternal_health_report/MHTF%20
evaluation%20report%2001.02.2013.pdf
This document is a comprehensive evaluation of the work of the Maternal Health Thematic Fund
(MHTF) that goes in depth on the effectiveness of its contributions to improving a number of
factors that affect the quality and access to maternal health. Particularly, the fund provides
regional support to emergency obstetric and newborn care (emONC) and midwifery efforts. The
report concludes with recommendations for a long-term plan to sustain the work of the MHTF,
which provides a “rapid and flexible funding mechanism” for countries that face great challenges
to successful and equitable maternal health care.
United Nations Population Fund. (2011). The State of the World’s Midwifery Report: Delivering Health, Saving
Lives. Retrieved 1 July 2013 from: http://www.unfpa.org/sowmy/resources/docs/main_report/en_SOWMR_Full.pdf
The topic of midwifery is important to explore in terms of working toward the goal of universal
access to adequate sexual and reproductive health care. The 2011 State of the World’s Midwifery
Report uses data from 58 countries to help frame this importance and show that the countries that
will benefit most from investments in midwife training are those that experience high rates of
maternal and newborn mortality. The extensive report includes a summary of “bold steps”(Box
3.2) that delegates might consult when seeking recommendations and potential solutions to
increasing the prevalence and bettering the reputation and training of midwives who can help
keep low income, rural, and otherwise at-risk women safe during childbirth.
Bibliography
7 Billion Actions (2011). The World at Seven Billion: Top Issues – Fact Sheets. Retrieved 7 July 2013 from
http://7billionactions.org/brand-guidelines/docs/communication/KeyFacts/7BA-Factsheet-v5-En.pdf
Casey, S.E., Mitchell, K.T., Amisi, I.M., Haliza, M.M., Aveledi, B., Kalenga, P. & Austin, J. (2009). Use of Facility
Assessment Data to Improve Reproductive Health Service Delivery in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
BioMed Central [Open Access Article]. Retrieved 1 August 2013 from:
http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/pdf/1752-1505-3-12.pdf
Countdown to 2015 and Partners. (2010). Countdown to 2015: Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival [Web Site].
Retrieved 1 July 2013 from: http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/5848
Economic Commission for Europe, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Economic Commission for Africa & Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia. (2013). A Regional Perspective on the Post-2015 United Nations Development
Agenda (E/ESCWA/OES/2013/2) [Report]. Retrieved 30 June 2013 from:
http://www.regionalcommissions.org/post2015regionalreport.pdf
19