Welcome to the first Update Report for Merck for Mothers (known as MSD for Mothers outside the U.S. and Canada).

We are very pleased to share the progress of Merck for Mothers as the initial stages of our 10-year initiative take shape.

Overview of Merck for Mothers

Merck for Mothers is our new initiative to help the world reach UN Millennium Development Goal 5 to reduce the maternal mortality rate by 75%. Our focus is on the two leading causes of maternal mortality—post-partum hemorrhage and preeclampsia—as well as family planning, which is known to play an important role in reducing maternal mortality. Merck for Mothers is a new way to deliver on Merck's mission of saving and improving lives and builds on our heritage of helping to solve global health challenges, including river blindness, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and many others.

How We Got Here

The launch of Merck for Mothers was a culmination of an intensive listening and learning process. Over the past year, we consulted with more than 200 maternal health experts representing a range of organizations - NGOs, multi-laterals, national governments, foundations, academia, media and other companies - who dedicated their time and ideas to helping us identify areas where we can make a difference. We are grateful to all those who shared their valuable insights.

New Developments

Advancing promising technologies: Last fall, we launched an innovative alliance with PATH to assess promising maternal health technologies that are at various stages of development. The goal of this collaboration is to identify and advance innovations that have the greatest potential to save women’s lives. Learn more.

Convening global advisors: We convened our first Advisory Board meeting this past December, bringing together some of the leading voices in global health from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Harvard School of Public Health, the Population Council and several other key organizations. Learn more.

Catalyzing the private sector: Merck for Mothers and NORAD – the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation – are co-chairing a new Task Force on Sustainable Business Models to better understand how business can help deliver quality health care to mothers and children who need it most. Learn more.

Joining alliances: We are proud to become the first company to join the World Health Organization’s Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH). We also look forward to co-chairing the new Maternal Mortality Working Group of the Millennium Development Goal Health Alliance, a partnership of private-sector leaders established by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Every Woman, Every Child initiative.

We look forward to sharing additional updates about Merck for Mothers with you.

Be Well,

The Merck for Mothers Team

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