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Commodities

©UNFPA. Midwives at the Provincial Health School Oudomxay, Laos, in 2013.

Commodities have the potential to be a game changer for the survival of pregnant women, new mothers and their babies, when implemented within a functioning health system.  Quality-assured MNH commodities are essential for reducing maternal and newborn mortality and achieving the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere targets.

However, commodities can only be effective if they are quality-assured and provided as part of a package of MNH interventions within a functioning health system, strengthening the capacity of health workers.
Building on the work of the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities, an Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere working group is supporting countries in scaling up life-saving commodities to improve maternal and newborn health and wellbeing and reduce stillbirths.  The working group provides coordination and technical assistance to access the quality-assured commodities.

The impact

  • Scale up of 13 priority maternal and newborn health  commodities could save 6 million lives over a five-year period, according to the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities.
  • Scaling up life-saving commodities can prevent an additional 2 million lives by 2030, as per BMGF 2023 GoalKeepers report estimates.

 ©UNFPA.
Gomezgani Mapala measures the pressure of  Jane, who delivered a baby recently, at Mzenga Health Centre, Nkhata Bay, Malawi in October 2021.

List of WHO-recommended quality-assured maternal health commodities, by indication and major condition

Commodity Presentation Indication
Elemental Iron & Folic Acid Tablets or capsules Anaemia prevention and treatment i
Oxytocin Ampoules PPH prevention and treatment
HS-Carbetocin Ampoules PPH prevention ii
Ergometrin Ampoules PPH prevention and treatment iii
Misoprostol Tablets PPH prevention and treatment / Abortion care iv
Tranexamic acid Ampoules PPH treatment
Uterine Balloon Tamponade (UBT) Devices PPH management
Non-pneumatic anti-shock garment (NASG) Devices PPH management
Calibrated drapes Devices PPH prevention and management

Footnotes:

i. If oxytocin not available or cold chain not assured.

ii. To be used as an alternative when oxytocin is unavailable.

iii. Ergometrin used when oxytocin is contraindicated.

iv. Misoprostol can be distributed antenatally in areas lacking skilled personnel.

Commodity Presentation Indication
Calcium Tablets PE prevention i
Aspirin Tablets PE prevention ii
Labetalol Tablets & ampoules Management of HT iii
Methyldopa Tablets Management of HT
Nifedipine Tablets Management of HT / Management of preterm labour iv
Hydralazine Ampoules Management of HT
Magnesium Sulphate Ampoules PE-E prevention and treatment / management of preterm labour for neuroprotection v

Footnotes:

i. For women with low dietary calcium intake.

ii. In women at moderate or high risk of preeclampsia.

iii. Suitable for emergency hypertension control.

iv. Used in case of preterm labor to manage hypertension.

v. For women at imminent risk of preterm birth before 32 weeks of gestation.

Commodity Presentation Indication
Oral Antibiotics Tablets Treatment of ASB / completion of initial parenteral treatment i
Parenteral Antibiotics Ampoules Prophylaxis at C-Section, perineal tears, instrumental delivery ii
Aqueous chlorhexidine or povidone iodine Solution Vaginal preparation for C-Section
Alcohol-based chlorhexidine Solution Skin preparation for C-Section

Footnotes:

i. According to local prevalence. Suggested antibiotics: Nitrofurantoin, ampicillin, first-generation cephalosporins.

ii. Use as per local antibiotic resistance patterns for surgical prophylaxis.

Commodity Presentation Indication
Tetanus toxoid vaccine Ampoules / vials Immunizations i
Inactivated influenza vaccine Ampoules / vials Immunizations ii
Rubella vaccine Ampoules / vials Immunizations iii
Dexamethasone or betamethasone Ampoules Antenatal corticosteroid therapy

Footnotes:

i. Recommended for neonatal tetanus prevention.

ii. Recommended in cases of maternal flu exposure to reduce neonatal mortality risks.

iii. Rubella vaccination to prevent congenital infections and neonatal complications.

Commodity Presentation Indication
Oral Antibiotic: Amoxicillin Dispersible tablets, Oral syrup Neonatal sepsis i
Parenteral Antibiotics: Ampicillin and Gentamicin, procaine penicillin Ampoule Neonatal sepsis ii

Footnotes:

i. Amoxicillin recommended based on local prevalence and resistance patterns.

ii. Combination therapy suggested to cover broad bacterial spectrum in sepsis cases.

Commodity Presentation Indication
Self-inflating bag with appropriate mask (size 0 and 1) Device Newborn Resuscitation i
Pulse oximeter Device Oxygen saturation monitoring ii
Oxygen source (cylinder or concentrator)
Oxygen source (cylinder or concentrator) Device Oxygen administration iii
Thermometer Device Routine care – thermal care
Digital weighing scale Device Routine care – Weight monitoring
Neonatal stethoscope Device Routine care
Respiration Counter Device Routine care – Respiratory rate measurement
Vitamin K Ampoule Routine care iv

Footnotes:

i. Essential for neonatal resuscitation in settings without advanced respiratory support.

ii. Necessary for monitoring oxygen saturation in premature and at-risk infants.

iii. Recommended in facilities without continuous oxygen supply for emergency cases.

iv. Vitamin K to prevent hemorrhagic disease in newborns.

Commodity Presentation Indication
Dual HIV/Syphilis RDTs Test kits HIV & syphilis screening i
Zidovudine and Niverapine Syrup HIV exposure prophylaxis ii
Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) for HIV Device Early infant diagnosis for HIV iii

Footnotes:

i. Recommended as part of routine antenatal care in high-risk regions.

ii. Prophylaxis for infants born to HIV-positive mothers to reduce transmission risk.

iii. Early testing to enable prompt initiation of antiretroviral therapy for exposed infants.

News and events

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Resources

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Compendium on respectful maternal and newborn care

The compendium supports efforts to end mistreatment and achieve respectful maternal and newborn care. It is published by WHO together with UNFPA, UNICEF and the United Nations’ Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP), with support from Jhpiego and the MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership programme. 

The purpose of the compendium is to consolidate key evidence, tools and resources to support the practical implementation of respectful maternal and newborn care across different contexts. It provides programme managers with essential background to build a foundational understanding of mistreatment and respectful care. As such, it serves as a comprehensive resource that integrates theory with practice.

View Resource

Maternal and Newborn Health Fund Annual Impact Report 2024

Since 2010, countries supported by the Maternal and Newborn Health Fund have reduced maternal mortality by 40%, nearly twice the global rate, contributing to avert an estimated 75,000 maternal deaths. The Maternal and Newborn Health Fund is UNFPA’s flagship initiative to expand equitable access to quality reproductive, maternal, and newborn healthcare.

The Fund’s Annual Impact Report 2024, released this month, details significant progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality in 32 priority countries. In particular, the report highlights the impact of training and deploying midwives, enhancing emergency obstetric and newborn care, supporting national maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response systems and providing surgical fistula repair.

Download the report

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Programme manager’s handbook for maternal, child and adolescent health

The World Health Organization maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health e-handbook is a new resource for Ministry of health programme managers. It offers  step-by-step guidance for implementing effective health programmes, from planning to monitoring and evaluation, with concise overviews of key activities and interventions along the life course.  The e-handbook references WHO documents, to ensure that programme managers have access to evidence-based strategies and best practices tailored to various contexts.

This e-handbook contains a prioritised list of documents; for a full list of documents go to the resource library for maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health and ageing: https://uhcc.who.int/mca/

View Resource

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Photo © 2020 WHO / Tatiana Almeida
Midwives during WHO Head of Sub-Office Dr Kai von Harbou visit to Hope Field Hospital

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