Also in Global Health News April 30

Nepal Lagging on Maternal Mortality MDG

Nepal faces a "big challenge" in achieving its maternal health Millennium Development Goal by the 2015 deadline, IRIN reports. Government officials are aiming to cut the maternal mortality ratio of 281 per 100,000 live births by more than half, despite health service shortages that cause more than 80% of women to deliver without a trained health professional present. A new government initiative will scale up free child birth services and reimburse travel costs for women who in some cases must travel for hours to receive skilled care (IRIN, 4/30).

Ground Broken On Hospital, Malaria Research Center in Ghana

Ghanaian officials on Wednesday in Accra broke ground on a 100-bed general hospital and malaria research center, partly funded with a $7.5 million grant from China, according to the Ghana News Agency/myjoyonline.com (Ghana News Agency/myjoyonlie.com, 4/30). China pledged to help build 30 general hospitals in Africa, according to the Ghana Information Services Department, after a 2006 summit meeting on China/Africa cooperation (Ametepe, ISD/Ghana.gov.gh, 4/30).  At the ceremony, Ghana President John Evans Atta Mills emphasized the government's commitment to improve health care delivery (Ghana News Agency/myjoyonline.com, 4/30). Mills also reiterated that a proposed one-time premium or enrollment fee payment would make health care achievable for all in Ghana, according to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, 4/29).