The Maternal Mortality Ration in Bhutan is still one of the highest in the region and most of the women die during delivery without medical supervision. In 2009, only 66.3% of deliveries were attended by trained health professionals and only 59.2% delivered in the health centers.

A major portion of the fund received was spent in capacity building activities for health workers such as trainings, workshops, study tours and attachments in larger hospitals and for supply of health equipment to remote outreach clinics. Most health workers can now manage neonatal and childhood illnesses, Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care cases, breastfeeding problems, severe acute malnutrition, management of vaccines and cold chain equipment.

A major portion of the fund received was spent in capacity building activities for health workers such as trainings, workshops, study tours and attachments in larger hospitals and for supply of health equipment to remote outreach clinics. Most health workers can now manage neonatal and childhood illnesses, Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care cases, breastfeeding problems, severe acute malnutrition, management of vaccines and cold chain equipment.

The Goal of the project is to reduce infant and child mortality and to improve maternal and newborn health.

It’s outcome so far:
The project which was implemented in all the 20 districts of Bhutan has benefitted over 13,000 pregnant women and their newborn babies through improved and quality EmONC services. As the population of Bhutan is very small (about 670,000), the project had have a huge impact throughout the country thus enabling UNICEF to effectively eliminate unnecessary maternal and neonatal deaths in Bhutan.