According to data from the Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 774 maternal deaths were recorded in Mexico in 2023, and 18% of these deaths were Indigenous women The majority of these deaths were concentrated in Chiapas and Oaxaca, where almost half were among pregnant people who speak an Indigenous language. In Hidalgo, there are still significant issues related to adolescent pregnancies and limited access to sexual and reproductive health services.
These figures are the result of ongoing violations of Mexican women’s sexual and reproductive rights: 76.4% of women have experienced violence, the use of modern contraceptive methods remains low, and 21.3% of women in Indigenous households lack social security or health insurance.
The Sana y Segura program implemented a strategy that combined technology, training, and local initiatives to close the information and care gaps that continue to put the lives and well-being of thousands of women at risk.
As part of the program, more than 2,000 health care workers from over 170 municipalities participated in sexual and reproductive health trainings that emphasized dignified treatment, prevention of obstetric violence, and recognition of the impact of gender-based violence in health care.
As part of this initiative, Pro Mujer developed the Obstetric Violence First Responder Manual, a key tool to strengthen the skills and capacities of our partner organizations in the three states where the program was active.
Additionally, than 3,000 people completed educational training using a specialized sexual and reproductive health chatbot that provides safe, accessible, and confidential information on sexual and reproductive rights, birth control, and violence prevention.
The tool helped refer more than 750 women to family planning consultations and access modern contraception, a key step towards protecting and exercising their reproductive rights.
The program also focused on local activities, including 11 health fairs in Hidalgo that provided culturally relevant counseling and care to more than 1,000 people in safe spaces.
This impact was made possible thanks to support from more than 50 local partner organizations, a reflection of the incredible potential of collaborations between large companies, such as MSD, that are committed to social impact, social enterprises like Pro Mujer, and grassroots organizations that work every day to transform the health and rights of women from their communities.
“Sana y Segura demonstrates what is possible when will, knowledge, and commitment come together,” said Carmen Correa, CEO of Pro Mujer. “At Pro Mujer, we are committed to creating transformative programs, and we are looking for more committed companies, like MSD and MSD for Mothers, that want to build this future with us.”
“We believe in the power of working together to improve health care and fulfill the mission of our MSD for Mothers program that no woman has to die while giving life,” added Jennifer Cox, Managing Director of MSD for Mothers. “This collaboration between diverse sectors and organizations has shown that by combining efforts and capabilities, we can transform the health care and rights of thousands of women in Mexico, offering sustainable and culturally sensitive solutions that save lives.”
*MSD for Mothers is a global initiative of MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA in the United States and Canada.
About Pro Mujer
Pro Mujer is a non-profit social enterprise that for over 35 years has provided services and tools to women in Latin America so they can reach their full potential, improve their living conditions, and become agents of change in their communities.
Using a holistic and integrated model, Pro Mujer seeks to expand women’s access of women to health services, increase their financial inclusion, and provide them with training opportunities.
Pro Mujer is a pioneer in the region in promoting and raising awareness about gender lens investing as an effective mechanism to close gender gaps and boost productivity.
More information is available at www.promujer.org.
About MSD for Mothers
MSD for Mothers is MSD’s $650-million dollar global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life. Applying MSD’s business and scientific knowledge and resources, the initiative collaborates with partners to improve the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
About MSD
At MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ in the United States and Canada, our purpose is our compass: to use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world — and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable, and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.msd.com and connect with us on (X) Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
