Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
Applications open for Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity recognizes organizations working to improve maternal health outcomes and advance equitable access to quality maternity care for women and communities around the world.
The award focuses on improving maternal health outcomes, addressing unequal access to health care, strengthening health systems, supporting quality maternity care services, advancing safer pregnancy and childbirth experiences, promoting prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, and centering women’s voices and experiences in maternal health solutions.
In many countries, maternal health outcomes continue to remain unacceptably poor due to unequal access to health care services and broader social determinants of health. Community-based organizations and visionary leaders are playing a significant role in creating safer and healthier experiences for women during pregnancy and childbirth. Through their work, prenatal visits, labor and delivery services, and postpartum care during the first year after childbirth are helping contribute to improved maternal health outcomes.
The Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity was launched in 2021 in recognition of the legacy and commitment of Kenneth C. Frazier, retired chairman and CEO, toward advancing maternal health equity. The annual award is presented to one organization each year in celebration of its commitment to improving access to quality maternal health care and making progress toward equitable maternity care for all.
For more than a century, MSD has addressed major global health challenges including diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and cancer. Maternal mortality remains one of the preventable global health challenges the organization is working to address. Through this initiative, efforts are focused on supporting sustainable and high-quality maternity care services that benefit women and their communities.
The initiative emphasizes that solutions to maternal mortality and inequities in maternity care should be grounded in the voices and lived experiences of women. By supporting organizations dedicated to maternal health equity, the award seeks to encourage lasting improvements in maternal care systems and outcomes globally.
For more information, visit MSD for Mothers.
