Last week, Brazil becomes the first country to pay compensation to the family of a woman who died in childbirth as a result of negligence and discriminatory practices in maternity care.

This is a milestone in the battle to establish accessible and affordable reproductive healthcare as a human right. But while Brazil’s move is a significant one, celebrations remain muted. It has taken the government too long to get this far. Some 11 years ago, Alyne da Silva Pimentel, a poor Afro-Brazilian, 26, was six months into her second pregnancy. She sought help from a local health centre after the onset of nausea and abdominal pain. The signs that Da Silva’s pregnancy was high-risk were plentiful and clear; nevertheless, she was given pain medication and sent home

Click Here To Read More