FOREWORD

by Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, UNFPA

Empowering and enabling women to proactively decide whether and when to get pregnant, to act on this decision, and to go through pregnancy and childbirth safely are human rights . They also constitute Millennium Development Goal No . 5 . A number of countries still strive to reach the targets of this goal, which are to reduce maternal deaths and to achieve universal access to reproductive health, including family planning .

With the Maternal Health Thematic Fund (MHTF), UNFPA supports 43 high maternal mortality countries
to achieve MDG 5 and to accelerate progress in reducing the number of women who die giving life or who suffer from associated morbidity . This report gives evidence to the progress that has been facilitated by the Maternal Health Thematic Fund, including the Midwifery Programme and the Campaign to End Fistula . The report also demonstrates the invaluable benefits brought about through partnerships, as the MHTF collaborates with global, regional and national champions in their respective fields of work .

The Maternal Health Thematic Fund and its twin sister-the Global Programme to Enhance Reproductive Health Commodity Security (GPRHCS)-constitute important contributions from UNFPA to MDG 5, to the UN Secretary-General's Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health and to the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children . The MHTF and the GPRHCS also contribute to the implementation of the UNFPA Adolescent and Youth strategy and Family Planning strategy .

The many achievements featured in this report are the result of strong political commitment, particularly at the nation level, generous funding and enduring partnerships . I would like to take this opportunity to thank countries, donors, other partner organizations and colleagues for their productive collaboration now and in the future to save women's lives .

Dr . Babatunde Osotimehin Executive Director, UNFPA