Liberia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which to give birth and has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. 

More than half of the population live in poverty with approximately 1/4 living in extreme poverty. Liberia ranks 177 out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index 2016.

Life For African Mothers is a maternal health charity aiming to make birth safer in sub-Saharan Africa by providing medication to treat excessive bleeding, known as post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) and skill-sharing workshops to Liberian midwives to enhance their clinical skills in caring for mothers and babies. In the past year they have trained over 360 midwives across 7 counties.

Unfortunately the training has come to a standstill at present because LFAM's core funder has reluctantly retracted their corporate giving (citing Brexit as the reason - i.e. reasons not related to the Charity). LFAM is currently exploring alternative funding to enable the training of midwives in the remaining counties of Liberia.

In addition the supply of Misoprostol to Liberia has been stopped because there is no money to pay the shipping costs. Misoprostol is an essential life-saving medication given routinely in the UK to treat PPH which is the most common cause of maternal death world-wide, including in Liberia. 

 Misoprostol is donated free of charge by Pfizer UK, a leading pharmaceutical company. LFAM only has to pay for the shipping to Liberia. Saving the life of a mother has an immeasurable impact on the lives of families and communities in Liberia.

The cost of shipping a 6 month supply of this essential medication for the entire country is £1600. This would ensure that around 100,000 women would benefit. The last shipment was sent at the end of August. It was a three-month supply which will run out at the end of November. Therefore there is an urgent need to find the money to enable continuation of the supply of this life-saving medication.

Please donate whatever you can so that LFAM can continue to supply Misoprostol to mothers desperately in need in areas where hospitals simply do not have the resources.

* it costs less than the price of a postage stamp to prevent a mother haemorrhaging to death in childbirth

* £1 could save the lives of 2 women, £10 could save 20 women, £100 could save the lives of 200 women. 

* some people are planning to make donations in lieu of Christmas presents

All money donated will be used solely to fund the shipping of Misoprostol to Liberian mothers.