CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML+RDFa 1.0//EN" "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/DTD/xhtml-rdfa-1.dtd"> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" xmlns:fb="https://ogp.me/ns/fb#" xmlns:og="https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head profile="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/sil-favicon_0.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <meta name="description" content="A mother is better able to care for herself and her family when she is literate in her mother tongue and has access to health information in a language she understands well. Language development facilitates the introduction of new concepts and the accurate translation of new terminology. Midwife's education began in her mother tongue Life expectancy at birth is low in many" /> <meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.sil.org/about/why-languages-matter/language-and-millennium-development-goals/goal-5" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.sil.org/node/828" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="SIL Global" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.sil.org/about/why-languages-matter/language-and-millennium-development-goals/goal-5" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Improve maternal health" /> <meta property="og:description" content="A mother is better able to care for herself and her family when she is literate in her mother tongue and has access to health information in a language she understands well. Language development facilitates the introduction of new concepts and the accurate translation of new terminology. Midwife's education began in her mother tongue Life expectancy at birth is low in many rural ethnolinguistic communities in Cameroon. Besides the lack of healthcare infrastructure and personnel, the illiteracy of rural women can be considered a major cause of these numerous deaths." /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2016-09-26T14:27:27-05:00" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.sil.org/about/why-languages-matter/language-and-millennium-development-goals/goal-5" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Improve maternal health" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="A mother is better able to care for herself and her family when she is literate in her mother tongue and has access to health information in a language she understands well. Language development" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2012-08-13T18:15:04-05:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2016-09-26T14:27:27-05:00" /> <title>Improve maternal health | SIL Global</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_lQaZfjVpwP_oGNqdtWCSpJT1EMqXdMiU84ekLLxQnc4.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_EM9PzeHZt2AxxQ3R05nXINg9akBOG66G3hxOgWtlp2E.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_y-6OGvqwgwpR259lzJYNwvxpJm3Q1qOD_DWt90goRpM.css" media="all" /> <style>.panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region { padding: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region-inside { padding-right: 0.5em; padding-left: 0.5em; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region-inside-first { padding-left: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region-inside-last { padding-right: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-column { padding: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-column-inside { padding-right: 0.5em; padding-left: 0.5em; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-column-inside-first { padding-left: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-column-inside-last { padding-right: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-row { padding: 0 0 0.5em 0; margin: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-row-last { padding-bottom: 0; } .panels-flexible-column-new-main { float: left; width: 99.0000%; } .panels-flexible-new-inside { padding-right: 0px; } .panels-flexible-new { width: auto; } .panels-flexible-region-new-column_1 { float: left; width: 24.7329%; } .panels-flexible-region-new-column_2 { float: left; width: 24.7131%; } .panels-flexible-region-new-column_3 { float: left; width: 24.7712%; } .panels-flexible-region-new-column_4 { float: left; width: 24.7829%; } .panels-flexible-row-new-main-row-inside { padding-right: 0px; } .panels-flexible-region-new-trust_and_social_icons { float: left; width: 99.0000%; } .panels-flexible-row-new-2-inside { padding-right: 0px; } .not-front .main-container{padding-top:140px !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a{color:#333333;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .language-switcher li > a{color:#333333 !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate{color:#333333 !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate:hover{color:#ffffff !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate.active{color:#ffffff !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate.active:hover{color:#333333 !important;}@media (min-width :992px){.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li.dropdown > a:hover{background-color:#333333 !important;color:#ffffff !important;}}@media (max-width :992px){.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate{color:#ffffff !important;}}@media (max-width :992px){.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate:hover{color:#00a7e1 !important;}} .parallax-bottom-active #highlighted-bottom{background-image:url(https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/theme/parallax/canpain_image.jpeg) !important} </style> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_zED21mvWxuFxbVNWQ3jpwws9S15Sc5FyIQJiZnAMqL8.css" media="all" />  <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css" media="all" /> <style>#highlighted-middle{position:relative !important;} </style> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_EhKKHcU3eXWscgImOiOmkZTkUJSr3SrY88xkZcWjc0o.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_XfmdLWG0kCq2PV9SCEGBSKtMD9NrBuhDSyStJknjr-0.css" media="all" />   <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_V5lP_0SZNBHRj2DzOtsb79Wy57mt73KasmtP5wbb8vc.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_DdXIKt68jGany_F78Mxy_6Rv5aLF94bA6_npMbGnkV4.js"></script> <script>document.createElement( "picture" );</script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_GOikDsJOX04Aww72M-XK1hkq4qiL_1XgGsRdkL0XlDo.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_WwwX68M9x5gJGdauMeCoSQxOzb1Ebju-30k5FFWQeH0.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_dUZrV47uHCW1KAkDxDA5V_w3L1YOQ88P2djNbTaNpy8.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_fqmWu4QRZZhJm6yfVviOLhWB28O0w0yZaudDdfklRVU.js"></script> <script>jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $(window).load(function() { $("#highlighted-bottom-transparent-bg").css("backgroundColor", "rgba(0,0,0,0.5)"); }); });</script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_94IxgeUwmEgixrLYNaYkkDirO2HX9f7X4hHe5HF31lg.js"></script> <script>jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","setHasJsCookie":0,"ajaxPageState":{"theme":"sil_bootstrap","theme_token":"Ibo6UsB_MFAimLWs9ttkHWaIP6ytYUDgQ5ASZhWrO9o","js":{"sites\/all\/modules\/picture\/picturefill\/picturefill.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/picture\/picture.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/addthis\/addthis.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/bootstrap\/js\/bootstrap.js":1,"https:\/\/www.sil.org\/sites\/default\/files\/google_tag\/silorg_analytics\/google_tag.script.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/jquery\/2.2\/jquery.min.js":1,"0":1,"misc\/jquery-extend-3.4.0.js":1,"misc\/jquery-html-prefilter-3.5.0-backport.js":1,"misc\/jquery.once.js":1,"misc\/drupal.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/js\/jquery_browser.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/external\/jquery.cookie.js":1,"misc\/form-single-submit.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/collapsiblock\/collapsiblock.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/entityreference\/js\/entityreference.js":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/caption_filter\/js\/caption-filter.js":1,"sites\/all\/libraries\/colorbox\/jquery.colorbox-min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/js\/colorbox.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/styles\/default\/colorbox_style.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/js\/colorbox_load.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/js\/colorbox_inline.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/extlink\/js\/extlink.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/js\/jquery.hoverIntent.js":1,"1":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/js\/sil_bootstrap.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/js\/fading-text-expand.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/affix.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/alert.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/carousel.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/collapse.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/modal.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/tab.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/transition.js":1},"css":{"modules\/system\/system.base.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/collapsiblock\/collapsiblock.css":1,"modules\/field\/theme\/field.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/logintoboggan\/logintoboggan.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/luxe\/css\/luxe.css":1,"modules\/node\/node.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/picture\/picture_wysiwyg.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/video_filter\/video_filter.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/youtube\/css\/youtube.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/extlink\/css\/extlink.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/views\/css\/views.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/wysiwyg_align.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/caption_filter\/caption-filter.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/ckeditor\/css\/ckeditor.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/styles\/default\/colorbox_style.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/ctools\/css\/ctools.css":1,"public:\/\/css\/menu_icons.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/panels\/css\/panels.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/panels\/plugins\/layouts\/flexible\/flexible.css":1,"0":1,"1":1,"2":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/panels\/plugins\/layouts\/onecol\/onecol.css":1,"public:\/\/ctools\/css\/d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e.css":1,"\/\/maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com\/font-awesome\/4.7.0\/css\/font-awesome.min.css":1,"3":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/less\/sil_bootstrap.less":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil\/css\/context\/sub.css":1}},"collapsiblock":{"blocks":{"block-facetapi-sxczqu17k3p1teuubjnzgdpqcnjnvkot":"3","block-facetapi-bra7ew9xadjw3m0riibw59j9pzxofudd":"3","block-facetapi-qx8ea7ys3pbsu8hf9fvoduh8ehucxktr":"3","block-facetapi-lidxk4vqk7iu2dd1c112upiwmjo73xeg":"3","block-facetapi-is99jk8huqzsmdvfga0xv0xpj4t31qhf":"3","block-facetapi-pbobkettfcf1arhrcusbffs1m0zxlcd3":"3","block-facetapi-u1jlxckimb9sz4ld4ejcjf2sl9dxdwbk":"3","block-facetapi-5j1iqqy6ksitjoqym3gtackhqi22eauc":"3","block-facetapi-9yjxt7gg9p4o2yr2kjgc5b20gcckkfd0":"1","block-facetapi-uuiiuegqk08vxmdbrw8l8fi6byb9vmuy":"3","block-facetapi-1gbh2egrtauxgcnsvxkpau1l5ms3chng":"3","block-facetapi-280mtggtdtk5saa7obt8j7yvpfz9cvpu":"3","block-views--exp-resources-search-page-1":"1","block-current-search-standard":"1","block-facetapi-kyxhllbmnzmolrmqhmirlekgb9raaw6o":"1","block-facetapi-dxt6otypw8r6dhr924d0gj3mr934faqb":"1","block-blockgroup-sidebar-second-facets":"1","block-menu-block-17":"1","block-block-30":"1","block-views-ff9987dc08ee4a50295571c81f6f3da6":"1","block-menu-block-6":"1","block-menu-block-20":"1","block-menu-block-22":"1","block-block-28":"1","block-views-language-file-displays-block-3":"1","block-views-language-file-displays-block-4":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-facets":"1","block-menu-block-9":"1","block-menu-block-21":"1","block-block-16":"1","block-block-14":"1","block-block-13":"1","block-block-31":"1","block-menu-block-15":"1","block-menu-block-10":"1","block-menu-block-11":"1","block-menu-block-13":"1","block-menu-block-12":"1","block-menu-block-8":"1","block-menu-block-14":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-all-form":"1","block-bean-lca-teaser":"1","block-block-18":"1","block-views-jot-block-1":"1","block-menu-block-7":"1","block-views-jot-block-2":"1","block-ds-extras-sidebar":"1","block-block-32":"1","block-bean-front-page-block-1":"1","block-bean-front-page-block-2":"1","block-views-jot-block-3":"1","block-views-annual-reports-block-1":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-browse-secondary":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-browse-primary":"1","block-bean-language-and-culture":"1","block-bean-training-primary":"1","block-block-15":"1","block-block-5":"1","block-bean-software---sil-freeware":"1","block-block-33":"1","block-bean-software---program-recommendatio":"1","block-bean-scriptsource-block":"1","block-bean-scripts---browse-sil-script-reso":"1","block-bean-scripts---non-roman-script-initi":"2","block-block-35":"1","block-blockgroup-resources-bottom-block":"1","block-menu-block-4":"4","block-menu-block-3":"1","block-menu-block-24":"1","block-menu-block-2":"1","block-block-29":"1","block-block-34":"1","block-bean-software-product-block-1":"1","block-bean-software-product-block-2":"1","block-bean-software-product-block-3":"1","block-bean-software-product-block-4":"1","block-block-36":"1","block-bean-script-product-1":"1","block-bean-script-product-3":"1","block-bean-script-product-2":"1","block-bean-script-product-4-0":"1","block-bean-script-product-4":"1","block-bean-software-product-5":"1","block-facetapi-wjbh20fd82myvwxac1r4guvydxj40vll":"1","block-bean-font-block-1":"1","block-bean-font-block-2":"1","block-bean-font-block-3":"1","block-bean-font-block-4":"1","block-block-10":"1","block-block-37":"4","block-bean-training---highlights":"1","block-bean-lang-and-culture-resources":"1","block-menu-block-25":"1","block-menu-block-26":"1","block-block-6":"1","block-block-7":"1","block-block-8":"1","block-block-38":"1","block-block-12":"1","block-menu-menu-william-cameron-townsend":"1","block-menu-block-27":"1","block-block-39":"1","block-block-40":"1","block-block-11":"1","block-views-3a4d02d24e8d6ffc97701c027d522620":"1","block-views-3e6ac3c137e0004763fc426b70b1c7c6":"2","block-views-6951f455d6514a6a2e72d9b0dd02ac1e":"2","block-current-search-software-fonts-current-search":"1","block-facetapi-71mscsnhjsil81pavu2tn4mqe0wiydaf":"1","block-facetapi-jalsiyv6p64ukwvzpqlzb4pwahbrlsd1":"1","block-views-software-fonts-sidebar-block-1":"1","block-views-software-fonts-sidebar-block-3":"1","block-views-software-fonts-sidebar-block-2":"1","block-bean-software-and-fonts-banner":"1","block-ds-extras-related-software-fonts-block":"1","block-block-41":"1","block-sil-expertise-create-links":"1","block-bean-front-page-block-3":"1","block-facetapi-0":"1","block-facetapi-h31pi1pdxwgy3jaehhq6ntzgyvcbsw7h":"1","block-block-42":"1","block-block-46":"1","block-bean-sil-logo-kit-2014":"1","block-block-91":"1","block-facetapi-1dmq15yfejjdfj9denvsuibvgitrf3gq":"1","block-facetapi-dxiuj9brkgald0v4jzwyga1n8kn4s1eo":"1","block-menu-menu-social":"1","block-system-user-menu":"1","block-search-form":"1","block-menu-menu-legal-notices":"1","block-views-enterprise-news-recent-news":"1","block-sil-expertise-amazon-recommends":"1","block-block-121":"1","block-block-101":"1","block-block-106":"1","block-block-111":"1","block-block-126":"1","block-block-131":"1","block-block-141":"1","block-block-136":"1","block-block-146":"1","block-block-151":"1","block-block-161":"1","block-block-116":"1","block-block-156":"1","block-block-166":"1","block-menu-block-16":"1","block-facetapi-attrraeqpdaka4vfnmehalrgw0aa621r":"1","block-block-96":"1","block-block-66":"1","block-block-56":"1","block-block-76":"1","block-block-86":"1","block-block-71":"1","block-block-176":"1","block-block-181":"1","block-webform-client-block-145376":"1","block-views-oe-rotating-banner-block":"1","block-views-oe-rotating-banner-block-1":"1","block-menu-block-36":"1","block-menu-block-35":"1","block-menu-block-28":"1","block-menu-block-29":"1","block-menu-block-30":"1","block-menu-block-31":"1","block-menu-block-32":"1","block-menu-block-33":"1","block-menu-block-34":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-browse-pub-landings":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-browse-pub-home":"1","block-block-61":"1","block-block-51":"1","block-block-201":"1","block-block-186":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-corresponding-section":"1","block-views-766748665522ec876fc6bec2a1464845":"1","block-views-9e625007999567ef71abf02717756ff6":"1","block-block-206":"1","block-block-211":"1","block-views-covid19-resources-block-sm":"1","block-views-covid19-resources-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-covid19-resources-block-xs":"1","block-block-216":"1","block-views-e9294bace58d24eb786a4b09a4d94fd1":"1","block-views-covid19-fund-impact-block-sm":"1","block-views-covid19-fund-impact-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-covid19-fund-impact-block-xs":"1","block-block-221":"1","block-block-231":"1","block-menu-menu-trust":"1","block-facetapi-appir9yyhglhxtsdoyrn1rxfjdu8t1xg":"3","block-facetapi-syjnvw1l7fkooe2hohki4dkdi07wmo4d":"1","block-block-236":"1","block-block-251":"1","block-views-board-of-directors-block-xs":"1","block-views-board-of-directors-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-board-of-directors-block-sm":"1","block-views-83a2c699ba8afdf28410cdb07fb976fe":"1","block-views-eef78efd51713dffc7ee0d0d1d563c6b":"1","block-views-07997a2abec496bd5c345de538b6eecb":"1","block-views-our-work-resources-block-sm":"1","block-views-our-work-resources-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-our-work-resources-block-xs":"1","block-views-cca898ab845004dd2c4b39249f59eba6":"1","block-views-f30cdcc7e48cd8d62beb3452ab3b4897":"1","block-views-f079dc227e932cbfe8c69703b8ac926f":"1","block-blockgroup-legal-footer":"1","block-menu-block-44":"1","block-menu-block-5":"1","block-block-296":"1","block-block-291":"1","block-block-316":"1","block-views-fe0ad2c61bc1bfb6e7b8e29b0f28d5d0":"1","block-views-annual-reports-block-year":"1","block-block-286":"1","block-views-enterprise-news-block-year":"1","block-views-e2b4e0d696e92c834bc993fa2934cf95":"1","block-views-enterprise-news-block-1":"1","block-menu-block-41":"1","block-views-f77c684fada6abd57c177541f9bbd169":"1","block-views-jclsr-recent-block-recent-jclsr":"1","block-views-publications-jclsr-block":"1","block-views-jclsr-block":"1","block-views-epubs-block-sm":"1","block-views-epubs-block-xs":"1","block-views-epubs-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-projects-for-funding-block-sm":"1","block-views-12c2e95fcae35a90095bb09eccaea82d":"1","block-views-projects-for-funding-block-xs":"1","block-block-326":"1","block-block-261":"1","block-block-19":"1","block-block-271":"1","block-block-331":"1","block-views-scripture-engagement-block-sm":"1","block-views-0c7816c1bc1df1fb295b97dbd14c8c85":"1","block-views-scripture-engagement-block-xs":"1","block-block-196":"1","block-views-afe4393348b4681305d0db54ff30958e":"1","block-views-461099af594ee1f0a580d3d4bc34de73":"1","block-views-engagement-block-sm":"1","block-views-engagement-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-engagement-block-xs":"1","block-views-engagement-recent-sm-xs":"1","block-views-engagement-recent-xl-md":"1","block-block-281":"1","block-block-306":"1"},"default_state":1,"slide_type":1,"slide_speed":200,"block_title":":header:first","block":"div.block","block_content":"div.content"},"colorbox":{"opacity":"0.85","current":"{current} of {total}","previous":"\u00ab Prev","next":"Next \u00bb","close":"Close","maxWidth":"98%","maxHeight":"98%","fixed":true,"mobiledetect":true,"mobiledevicewidth":"480px","file_public_path":"\/sites\/default\/files","specificPagesDefaultValue":"admin*\nimagebrowser*\nimg_assist*\nimce*\nnode\/add\/*\nnode\/*\/edit\nprint\/*\nprintpdf\/*\nsystem\/ajax\nsystem\/ajax\/*"},"video_filter":{"url":{"ckeditor":"\/video_filter\/dashboard\/ckeditor"},"instructions_url":"\/video_filter\/instructions","modulepath":"sites\/all\/modules\/video_filter"},"better_exposed_filters":{"views":{"hero_image_page_title":{"displays":{"block":{"filters":[]}}},"expertise_articles":{"displays":{"block":{"filters":[]}}},"expertise_publications":{"displays":{"block":{"filters":[]}}}}},"picture":{"required":true,"mappings":[["small","small"],["large","large"],["medium","medium"],["Not Set","not_set"]],"label":"Image size (required) (required)","ckeditorDefaultMapping":"not_set","editorCSS":" [data-picture-mapping=\u0022small\u0022] { width: 150px; height: 75px;}\n [data-picture-mapping=\u0022large\u0022] { width: 900px; height: 450px;}\n [data-picture-mapping=\u0022medium\u0022] { width: 400px; height: 200px;}"},"urlIsAjaxTrusted":{"\/search\/node":true},"extlink":{"extTarget":"_blank","extClass":0,"extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":0,"extIconPlacement":"append","extSubdomains":0,"extExclude":"^(http:\\\/\\\/|https:\\\/\\\/)(www\\.)?sil\\.org(\\\/)?","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":0,"extAlertText":"This link will take you to an external web site. We are not responsible for their content.","mailtoClass":0,"mailtoLabel":"(link sends e-mail)","extUseFontAwesome":false},"bootstrap":{"anchorsFix":"0","anchorsSmoothScrolling":"0","formHasError":1,"popoverEnabled":1,"popoverOptions":{"animation":1,"html":0,"placement":"right","selector":"","trigger":"click","triggerAutoclose":1,"title":"","content":"","delay":0,"container":"body"},"tooltipEnabled":1,"tooltipOptions":{"animation":1,"html":0,"placement":"auto left","selector":"","trigger":"hover focus","delay":0,"container":"body"}}});</script>    </head> <body class="html not-front not-logged-in no-sidebars page-node page-node- page-node-828 node-type-page i18n-en parallax-bottom-active" > <div id="skip-link"> <a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a> </div> <div class="region region-page-top"> <noscript aria-hidden="true"><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-W4536JL" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> </div> <div class="page-hero "> <div class="navbar-wrapper"> <div class="container"> <header id="navbar" role="banner" class="navbar container navbar-default"> <div class="container"> <div class="navbar-header"> <a class="logo navbar-btn pull-left" href="/" title="Home"> <img src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/sil_logo_glyph.png" alt="Home"/> </a>  <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle btn btn-navbar" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".navbar-collapse"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-menu-hamburger" aria-hidden="true"></span> </button> </div> <div class="navbar-menu menus navbar-collapse collapse"> <nav role="navigation" class="menu-inner"> <div class="nav-top"> <ul class="menu nav navbar-nav secondary"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/contact" id="usernav-contact">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/user/login" id="usernav-signin">Sign In</a></li> <li class="last leaf search"><a class="nolink" tabindex="0"><i class="fa fa-search" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="title">Search</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="search-box"> <form class="search-form clearfix" action="/search/node" method="post" id="search-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="form-wrapper form-group" id="edit-basic"><div class="input-group"><input placeholder="Search" class="form-control form-text" type="text" id="edit-keys" name="keys" value="" size="40" maxlength="255" /><span class="input-group-btn"><button type="submit" class="btn btn-default"><span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-search icon glyphicon-search" aria-hidden="true"></span></button></span></div><button class="element-invisible btn btn-primary form-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search">Search</button> </div><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-zYC_obIz_IzNLzsqimz04B542Yc4N4H344tT9f0aDKw" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_form" /> </div></form> </div> </div> <div class="nav-bottom"> <div class="mega"><ul class="menu nav navbar-nav"><li class="first expanded dropdown"><a href="/language-services" data-target="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown">Language Services <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-down hidden-xs hidden-sm"></span></a><span class="btn icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right visible-xs-inline visible-sm-inline"></span><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li><div class="mega-content"><div class="row"><ul class="col-md-3 list-unstyled"><li class="first expanded"><span><strong><a href="/language-development" id="mainnav-languagedev">Language Development</a></strong></span><hr/></li> <li class="first leaf"><a href="/dictionaries-lexicography" id="mainnav-dictionarieslex">Dictionaries & Lexicography</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-assessment" id="mainnav-languageassess">Language Assessment</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-programs-management" id="mainnav-languageprograms">Language Programs Management</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-technology" id="mainnav-languagetech">Language Technology</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/literacy-education" id="mainnav-literacyed">Literacy & Education</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/media-development" id="mainnav-mediadev">Media Development</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/orthography">Orthography</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/translation" id="mainnav-translation">Translation</a></li> </ul><ul class="col-md-3 list-unstyled"><li class="expanded"><span><strong><a href="/langculture" id="mainnav-languagecul">Language & Culture</a></strong></span><hr/></li> <li class="first leaf"><a href="/anthropology" id="mainnav-anthropology">Anthropology</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/arts-ethnomusicology" id="mainnav-artsethno">Arts & Ethnomusicology</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://sites.google.com/sil.org/global-diaspora-services" target="_blank">Diaspora Services</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-culture-documentation" id="mainnav-languageculdoc">Language & Culture Documentation</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-culture-learning" id="mainnav-languagecullearn">Language & Culture Learning</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/linguistics" id="mainnav-linguistics">Linguistics</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/sign-languages" id="mainnav-signlanguages">Sign Languages</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/sociolinguistics" id="mainnav-sociolinguistics">Sociolinguistics</a></li> </ul><ul class="col-md-3 list-unstyled"><li class="expanded"><span><strong><a href="/resources" id="mainnav-resources">Resources</a></strong></span><hr/></li> <li class="first leaf"><a href="/guide-planning-future-our-language">A Guide for Planning the Future of Our Language</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/resources/english-with-newcomers" class="langdev">English with Newcomers</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/resources/glossaries-linguistic-terms" id="mainnav-lingglossaries" class="glossaries">Glossaries of Linguistic Terms</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/resources/language-culture-archives" id="mainnav-languagearchives" class="langcult">Language & Culture Archives</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/resources/publications" id="mainnav-publications" class="public">SIL International Publications</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="http://software.sil.org/products/" id="mainnav-softwarefonts" class="software" target="_blank">Software & Fonts</a></li> </ul><ul class="col-md-3 list-unstyled"><li class="last expanded"><span><strong><a href="/training" id="mainnav-training">Training</a></strong></span><hr/></li> <li class="first leaf"><a href="/training/about-sil-training" id="mainnav-abouttraining">About Training</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/training/specialties" id="mainnav-trainingforspecialists">For Specialties</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.sil.org/training/hub">Online Training</a></li> <li class="last collapsed"><a href="/training/training-programs-language-development" id="mainnav-trainingprograms">Programs</a></li> </ul></div></div></li></ul></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/blog">Blog</a></li> <li class="expanded dropdown"><a href="/about/discover" data-target="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown">Our Work <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-down hidden-xs hidden-sm"></span></a><span class="btn icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right visible-xs-inline visible-sm-inline"></span><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/discover">Discover SIL</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/worldwide">Worldwide</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/related-sites">Related Sites</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/careers" target="_blank">Careers</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.sil.org/health">Health Initiative</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/idil">IDIL</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/trauma-healing">Trauma Healing</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded dropdown"><a href="/why-languages-matter" data-target="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown">Why Languages Matter <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-down hidden-xs hidden-sm"></span></a><span class="btn icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right visible-xs-inline visible-sm-inline"></span><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/why-languages-matter">Language & Flourishing</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/sign-languages">Sign Languages</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/about/endangered-languages">Endangered Languages</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded dropdown"><a href="/about" id="mainnav-about" data-target="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown">About SIL <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-down hidden-xs hidden-sm"></span></a><span class="btn icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right visible-xs-inline visible-sm-inline"></span><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/history" id="mainnav-history">Our History</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/leaders">Our Leaders</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/financial-information" id="mainnav-financialinfo">Financial Accountability</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/media" id="mainnav-mediacenter">Media Center</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/reports/2023">Annual Report</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/about/news">News</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/give" class="btn btn-default donate">Donate</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header> </div> </div> </div> <div class="page-bar"> <div class="col-md-12"> </div> </div> <div class="main-container container"> <div class="row"> <section class="col-sm-12 main-content-column"> <div id="page-title"> <h1 class="page-title">Improve maternal health</h1> </div> <a id="main-content"></a> <div class="region region-content"> <section id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <div class="panel-display panel-1col clearfix" > <div class="panel-panel panel-col"> <div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><span>A mother is better able to care for herself and her family when she is literate in her mother tongue and has access to health information in a language she understands well. Language development facilitates the introduction of new concepts and the accurate translation of new terminology.</span></p> <h2>Midwife's education began in her mother tongue</h2> <p><img alt="Mother and child" class="align-left" height="121" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/midwife-education.jpeg" style="float: left; padding: 2px;" title="Mother and child" width="179" />Life expectancy at birth is low in many rural ethnolinguistic communities in Cameroon. Besides the lack of healthcare infrastructure and personnel, the illiteracy of rural women can be considered a major cause of these numerous deaths.</p> <p>Alimata, a rural woman in the Muyang community from the Far North Province, has decided to help women of her area. She attended the two-year literacy program in the Muyang language and learned to read and write in her mother tongue.</p> <p>Because of her literacy skills, Alimata was then able to receive training from a local health service. Now she assists nurses and also plays the role of mid-wife in her village. Alimata is proud to have a part in helping to save the lives of both the child and the mother during childbirth.</p> <h2>Medicinal local plants explained in Soumraye booklets</h2> <div class="img-right"><span class="caption"><img alt="Soumraye Women" class="align-left" height="163" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/soumraye-women.jpeg" style="float: left; padding: 2px;" title="Soumraye Women" width="275" /></span></div> <p>The Soumraye people of Chad conduct a three-year literacy program in 37 villages. During the first two years, students learn the Soumraye alphabet and gain basic literacy skills. In the third year, they concentrate on various reading materials that include booklets about clean water, planting trees, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, treating and preventing intestinal and respiratory illnesses and medicinal use of local plants.</p> <p>One mother who finished the three-year literacy cycle said, "I am learning a lot through the health booklets in Soumraye, and I have successfully used local plants to treat some symptoms such as coughing and diarrhea."</p> <h3>Related links</h3> <ul> <li><a href="/literacy-and-education/avian-flu-bird-flu-h5n1-avian-influenza"><span>A</span></a><a href="/literacy-and-education/avian-flu-bird-flu-h5n1-avian-influenza">vian flu bird flu H5N1 and avian influenza</a></li> <li><a href="/literacy-and-education">Literacy and Education</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/why-languages-matter/language-and-millennium-development-goals/goal-2">New Guiding Principles for International Development</a></li> </ul> <p><br /> <a href="/node/606"><< BACK TO WHY LANGUAGES MATTER</a></p> </div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </section> </div> </div> <footer class="footer"> <div class="footer-top"> <div class="container"> <div class="region region-footer"> <section id="block-panels-mini-sil-bootstrap-footer-menu" class="block block-panels-mini clearfix"> <div class="panel-flexible panels-flexible-new clearfix" id="mini-panel-sil_bootstrap_footer_menu"> <div class="panel-flexible-inside panels-flexible-new-inside"> <div class="panels-flexible-row panels-flexible-row-new-main-row panels-flexible-row-first clearfix footer-links"> <div class="inside panels-flexible-row-inside panels-flexible-row-new-main-row-inside panels-flexible-row-inside-first clearfix"> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-column_1 panels-flexible-region-first "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-column_1-inside panels-flexible-region-inside-first"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-block-276 pane-block footer-logo" > <div class="pane-content"> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/sil_logo_white.png" style="width: 100px; height: 54px;" /></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-column_2 "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-column_2-inside"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-37 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/about">About Us</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-38 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/blog">Blog</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-41 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/about/news">News</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-column_3 "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-column_3-inside"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-44 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/give">Ways to Donate</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-39 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/contact">Contact Us</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-42 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/leaders">Our Leaders</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-column_4 panels-flexible-region-last "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-column_4-inside panels-flexible-region-inside-last"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-45 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/about/why-languages-matter">Why Languages Matter</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-43 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/about/discover">Our Work</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-40 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/language-services">Language Services</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panels-flexible-row panels-flexible-row-new-2 panels-flexible-row-last clearfix "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-row-inside panels-flexible-row-new-2-inside panels-flexible-row-inside-last clearfix"> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-trust_and_social_icons panels-flexible-region-first panels-flexible-region-last "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-trust_and_social_icons-inside panels-flexible-region-inside-first panels-flexible-region-inside-last"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-46 pane-menu-block footer-social" > <div class="pane-content"> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-46 menu-name-menu-social parent-mlid-0 menu-level-1"> <ul class="menu nav"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-483"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/silglobal" class="menu_icon menu-483" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-facebook" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-114151"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sil_global/"><i class="fa fa-instagram" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-114156"><a href="http://linkedin.com/company/silglobal"><i class="fa fa-linkedin" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-484"><a href="https://twitter.com/silglobal"><i class="fa fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-482"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SILglobal" class="menu_icon menu-482"><i class="fa fa-youtube-play" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-bottom"> <div class="container"> <div class="region region-footer-bottom"> <section id="block-block-316" class="block block-block clearfix"> <p>Copyright 漏 2024聽<a href="https://www.sil.org">SIL Global</a>聽|聽<a href="https://www.sil.org/terms-use" title="Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | External Links Disclaimer">Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | External Links Disclaimer</a>聽| <a href="https://sil.org/ai-ethics-statement">AI Ethics聽Statement</a></p> </section> <section id="block-block-271" class="block block-block clearfix"> <p class="text-center"><a href="https://www.guidestar.org/profile/75-1840827" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/candid-seal-gold-2022.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a>聽聽<a href="https://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=60424" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/ecfa-seal-charter.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a></p> </section> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_7-q4xx5FaXgFWWma9tMCS9Q__822jcg6rhczPisS8LQ.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_MLVgtzZ1ORq9krYqkeOsRay6ou_T-0QZytivuM9tTT8.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_MRdvkC2u4oGsp5wVxBG1pGV5NrCPW3mssHxIn6G9tGE.js"></script> </body> </html>