“Ensuring safe maternity is a way to make women equal citizens", says Dr Ayesha De Costa. She is a physician with a PhD in epidemiology. She has active research collaborations in China, Vietnam, Uganda, Finland, the UK and India. Ayesha coordinates several projects in the field of infectious diseases and maternal health.

The main objective of MATIND is to evaluate two innovative large-scale government programmes. The programmes were set up to promote childbirth in hospitals. They also aim to improve access to maternal healthcare for poor women. Hopefully, this will decrease maternal mortality among women living below the poverty line in India.