Ignaz Semmelweis

Notable Quotes

When I look back upon the past, I can only dispel the sadness which falls upon me by gazing into that happy future when the infection will be banished.

from The 44% drop in maternal deaths · Updated Jan 22

"When I look back upon the past, I can only dispel the sadness which falls upon me by gazing into that happy future when the infection will be banished."

from The century that stopped burying babies · Updated Jan 22

Stories

The 44% drop in maternal deaths

New Capabilities

Deceased (1865)

In 1990, approximately 532,000 women died each year from pregnancy and childbirth complications. By 2015, that number had fallen to 303,000—a 44% reduction in the maternal mortality ratio, from 385 to 216 deaths per 100,000 live births. The decline represents one of the largest coordinated public health efforts in history, driven by expanded access to skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric care, and basic medical interventions like antibiotics and blood transfusions.

Updated Jan 22

The century that stopped burying babies