On Thursday, May 23, the world will be marking the first-ever International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, as recently designated by the United Nations General Assembly. USAID commemorates this day by celebrating a milestone in global maternal health: Over 30,000 fistula repair surgeries have been performed with U.S. support since 2005. Fistula, a devastating childbirth injury believed to affect millions of women in developing countries, can be surgically repaired up to 90% of the time.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Yesterday, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced seven new winners in the Agency’s open competition for development ideas. These projects are co-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures WASH for Life Partnership – an initiative to support DIV grantees improving water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries. These seven grantees are testing new and cost-effective solutions to water challenges around the world.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013
USAID Press Office
202-712-4320

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN | MAY 22 – Some 80 percent of Afghan women have regular or occasional access to mobile phones, according to a survey conducted in late 2012. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and based on the research methodology of GSM Association’s Mobile Women Program, the survey shows a remarkable speed of mobile phone adoption among Afghan women since the first mobile phone license was issued in the country in 2002. In addition, 82 percent of those surveyed believe mobile phones improve Afghan women's lives.

Posted by Elizabeth Corley, SHOPS on Saturday, May 18th 2013

Posted by Ruwaida Salem, Senior Technical Writer, K4Health and Steve Goldstein, Senior Consultant, K4Health on Friday, May 17th 2013

During the month of May, IMPACT will be highlighting USAID’s work in Global Health. Below features the important role of mothers and partnerships in Global Health.

In the last 23 years, global mortality rates have decreased by 47 percent. With funding from international governments and non-governmental organizations, developing countries across the globe have received unprecedented aid in the form of education and healthcare support to decrease mortality rates.

As part of our nearly $510 million in humanitarian aid to help those affected by the crisis in Syria, wheat recently provided by the United States will feed more than one million people in Syria for four months.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2013
Contact: Kevin O’Loughlin
Phone: 0702-323262
Email: KabulAIDdoc@usaid.gov

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN | MAY 12, 2013 – Developing and reforming legal education was the subject of today’s historic gathering at the Ministry of Higher Education, where the representatives of Law and Shari’a faculties, governmental and non-governmental institutions, and international donors plotted a course for sustainable education during the 2013 Legal Education Symposium.

Kent R. Hill, Senior Vice President, World Vision on Friday, May 10th 2013

The development field has been exploring for years ways to harness the power of technology to benefit those in need, especially mobile technology, which can reach people in remote areas who need food, health, education, and other assistance quickly and well.