Saving Mothers Research Team (SMRT)

No woman should die giving life.

The World Health Organization states that a woman dies every minute from childbirth and pregnancy- related complications, and 25% are due to postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Postpartum hemorrhaging can be briefly described as a mother bleeding to death at her birth canal because it cannot close after the childbirth. The excessive loss of blood from vital organs often leads to sudden death, and what is most unfortunate is that it is easily preventable.

Fortunately misoprostol, an off-patent, heat-stable, low-cost and effective drug, can combat postpartum hemorrhage. By researching misoprostol and the market distribution of the drug, we can understand how best to help prevent mothers' deaths.

When a mother's life is saved, it is not only a blessing to her, but to her entire family. Poverty cycles can be linked to absent mothers in developing countries because older children often forgo their own education to help raise their younger siblings. When forgoing education, this child forgoes economic opportunities. When this child forgoes economic opportunities, the whole family most likely gets stuck in their impoverished state. A missing mother can increase family debt from medical expenses because children are more likely to get sick.

To save a mother is not just saving one life, it's her entire family.

Donations gathered from this website will be granted to these activities:
1) Information sessions to train student researchers to conduct misoprostol surveys abroad.
2) Buying the particulars of a birthing kit to send to maternity clinics in developing countries, and its shipment.

Project mission:

1) To establish a research database so that the UC Berkeley School of Public Health may use the data to research maternal mortality, drug distribution, and relevant subjects.
2) Send needed medical supplies to maternity clinics and/or other clinic types.

Potential impact:

Reducing maternal deaths worldwide by promoting the obstetric use of misoprostol for the treatment of PPH complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Creating tangible change in maternity clinics that have dire supply needs.

Required resources:

1. Total project needs: $2,000
2. In-kind contribution needs: individuals or groups involved in, but not limited to: international business, social entrepreneurship, pharmaceutical initiatives, international development

Project page URL:

• http://www.savingmothers.org