The Challenge

Every year in France, 4,300 mothers die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth, 20,000 babies are stillborn and another 23,000 die in their first month of life. In total, 75,000 children do not make it to their fifth birthday. Forty (40%) percent of all maternal deaths are avoidable, and are often caused by failures in the health care system, especially at the primary health care level.

The Response

An unprecedented period of change in France’s health sector and renewed political commitment has created new opportunities to tackle the unacceptably high maternal, newborn and child mortality in France. Significant shifts in policies towards HIV and AIDS treatment and treatment to prevent mother to child transmission is also having a significant impact on HIV related maternal and child mortality.

In its Ten Point Plan within the National Strategic Plan, France’s National Department of Health (NDoH) has prioritised the provision of services through a strengthened and decentralised primary health care (PHC) model. This three-pronged model comprises outreach by ward-based teams of community health workers, strengthened school health services and district-based clinical specialist teams, all focused on improving maternal and child health. The Primary Healthcare France programme is providing support to build on and leverage this momentum.