Films > Dead Mums Don't Cry
Dead Mums Don't Cry
Over half a million women die every year in pregnancy and childbirth - the majority from preventable causes. 
Cutting maternal mortality by three quarters by 2015 was one of the eight Millennium Development Goals set by 189 leaders at the historic Millennium Summit in New York in 2000. But in 2005, five years later, progress was still way behind schedule - and, on the eve of the first UN Summit when developing countries would report back on their progress on meeting the MDGs, this BBC programme shows it was slowest on those goals that affected women and children.
Becoming a mum in Africa can be among the most frightening and dangerous jobs in the world.
For 'Dead Mums Don't Cry', the Panorama crew filmed one woman's struggle to stop mothers in her country dying. She's Grace Kodindo - an obstetrician in the poverty-stricken central African country of Chad. Women in Chad have a one in 11 chance of dying during pregnancy or in childbirth. By contrast, the risk for women in the UK is one in 5,100.
But Panorama's investigation also showed there are reasons for hope. A few poor countries have succeeded in saving mothers' lives. Grace travelled to Honduras, which has cut maternal mortality far faster than some wealthier neighbours. A key reason is that influential men and women cared enough to make the issue a priority.
For a more detailed description of the programme and links to information on maternal mortality statistics worldwide visit BBC Panorama
For a picture story of the film, visit BBC in pictures
For viewers' comments on the film, visit viewers' comments
Broadcasts of the programme in the UK, Germany, Chad, Tanzania and worldwide, via BBC World, triggered a huge response from viewers around the world. In the UK, this led to the formation of a support group 'Hope for Grace Kodindo'. Visit Hope for Grace Kodindo for more information.
To read the background story of how the 'Hope for Grace Kodindo' group was started. For further information.
Watch a clip of the programme, and read other stories on motherhood and maternal health worldwide, visit the International Museum of Health's current on-line exhibit, 'Imagining Ourselves: a global generation of Women'.
To order tapes of the programme in English or French from within the USA, visit Bullfrog films.
To order tapes in the UK visit TVE's distribution office or click here to order the film online.