Position Paper on Maternal and Infant Mortality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

By David V. Strider, RN, CCRN, MSN , BB( ASCP), ACNP

May 4, 2010

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has one of the highest infant mortality and maternal mortality rates in the world. In 2007 the infant mortality rate was 108 per 1,000 live births, which reflected only a 15% decrease over two decades. In 2007 the DRC maternal mortality rate was 1,100 per 100,000 live births. We know that 161 DRC children will die, for every 1,000 children, before they reach the age of five. Various surveys affirm that at least 76% of the DRC population is undernourished. Only 36% of the DRC infants receive exclusive breastfeeding. (World Bank Group Data Profile for Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2010).

Compounding the maternal and infant health problems are the high

Today the Olympics for 2016 were awarded to Rio DeJaniero. The Olympics for 2012 will be in London. The preparation for these events will be at the cost of millions of dollars.
The lodging and reataurants will be plush...the opportunity for tourism will be abundant. High technology wlil be used to let individuals around the world view these spectacular events.
In the interim, the many parts of our world will be in the dark because there is no electricity. Television is a rarity. Hunger is a common occurence, as is death...Loss of life as a mother after childbirth, or the demise of a baby before she or he reaches the age of one.
We can count with split second, photo frame accuracy up to a 100th of a second, the times for every Olympic event...Who is counting the last breath of each dying mother, or the last cry of a dying baby..?
Areas such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo need our help, in terms of creative ways to support health childbearing and health infants. Healthy mothers and less childhood deaths make for a strong economic climate for the DRC, a country wiht rich natural resourcs and a people proud of their heritage and traditions..
Prosami has the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many mothers and future infants in the DRC....but we can do so only with your support...

This is a test blog. The website is now up and running, there are links which are still in the works. I hope to make this a user friendly website, which will inform as well as help bring together people who wish to help the cause.