he geographic distribution of the hundreds of thousands of maternal deaths each year is telling: 99% of deaths in childbirth are in the developing world. Such disparity is mirrored within countries where poor women are more likely to die or become disabled than those with means. Many deaths, of women and their newborns, can be prevented with emergency obstetric care delivered through well-functioning health systems. Maternal and newborn death and disability are personal tragedies, symptoms of health systems in crisis, and profound violations of human rights.