As our Land Cruiser pulls up the rugged road, winding through the Tambul Valley in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG), I am reminded of the remoteness of the areas where nearly 90% of PNG’s population of 7.3 million lives.

Without access to transport, how would a pregnant woman negotiate the long journey to the nearest health facility? When she managed to get there, would it provide a welcoming and safe environment for her to deliver?

The reality in PNG is that this is often not the case and over half of births still take place outside of a health facility, often with severe consequences in the form of both infant and maternal health and mortality.

In a country that saw nearly 10% economic growth in 2015, it is almost inconceivable that 1,500 women die during childbirth every year due to lack of rural health services.

Upon entering the village of Alkena at the end of our 3-hour road journey.