Partnership for Child Health

Women bear a disproportionate and often overlooked burden of war.In today's conflict zones, women are not only deliberately targeted through gender based violence but also suffer intensely from the collapse of vital systems that support their health and wellbeing.The consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are catastrophic yet routinely sidelined in humanitarian responses.The complexities of different types of conflicts demand nuanced attention to the layered ways in which war devastates women's bodies, autonomy, and futures.

This article reviews the importance of regional initiatives in the context of global efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4 and 5 and describes the action-oriented multi-country healthcare professional association (HCPA) workshops organized by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. The South Asian HCPA workshop served as a catalyst for strengthening the ability of HCPAs in South Asian countries to organize and coordinate their activities effectively, play a larger role in national planning, and collaborate with other key stakeholders in maternal, newborn and child health.