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Maternal and newborn health

Activities and tools

Midwifes are trained in using simple tools for monitoring labour and births. (Photo: WHO/Malin Bring)

WHO/Europe supports countries through a strategic approach that includes:

  • supporting assessment and planning at the national and regional levels;
  • providing essential packages for training, monitoring and impact evaluation;
  • supporting implementation of quality standards of care in pilot sites as model for further dissemination;
  • promoting the rational use of drugs, equipment and supplies, and evidence-based clinical guidelines;
  • using maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity case review to improve quality of care; and
  • supporting the involvement of individuals, families and communities.

Activities comprise:

  • training workshops, including theoretical, practical and clinical training for health professionals and policy-makers;
  • disseminating tools and training materials;
  • supporting high-priority countries through biennial collaborative agreements;
  • providing expertise from WHO/Europe, WHO country offices and WHO Collaborating Centres
  • promoting experience sharing among  countries

The aim is to ensure that health systems use evidence-based, cost-effective and appropriate interventions to prevent unnecessary deaths and complications in pregnancy, backed up by norms and regulations that will allow and sustain changes in clinical practice and organization.