What does it take to save a mother’s life? Sometimes, the answer is as simple as access to an affordable medication. Yet, for countless women across the world, that medication remains dangerously out of reach.
In her powerful memoir, WOMANSLAUGHTER: A Personal Journey Through The Tragedy of Maternal Mortality, Angela Gorman MBE reveals how one unexpected moment inspired a 20-year humanitarian mission that helped transform maternal healthcare across parts of Africa.
Her remarkable journey demonstrates how determination, compassion and collective action can make an extraordinary difference.
One Television Programme That Sparked a Humanitarian Mission
On June 26, 2005, Angela Gorman, an experienced neonatal nurse from Cardiff, Wales, was preparing to switch off her television when a BBC Panorama documentary caught her attention.
Titled Dead Mums Don’t Cry, the programme followed Dr Grace Kodindo, an obstetrician in Chad, who was struggling to save pregnant women without essential medical supplies.
Gorman was deeply affected by the heartbreaking scenes of preventable maternal deaths. Instead of simply expressing sympathy, she decided to act.
That evening, she sent an email that marked the beginning of an extraordinary humanitarian journey.
What initially started as an effort to provide lifesaving medications to one maternity hospital eventually developed into the charity Life for African Mothers.
Six Million Tablets That Represent Countless Opportunities for Survival
One of the most remarkable achievements documented in WOMANSLAUGHTER is the distribution of more than six million tablets of Misoprostol over approximately two decades.
Misoprostol is an important medication used to prevent and treat postpartum haemorrhage, a potentially fatal complication involving severe bleeding after childbirth.
According to Gorman’s memoir, approximately two million women received the medication free of charge through the charity’s efforts across parts or all of seven African countries.
However, these figures represent something far more meaningful than medical supplies.
Every woman receiving essential treatment represents a potential life saved, children who may grow up with their mother and families spared unimaginable grief.
For Gorman, these human outcomes were always the true measure of success.
Beyond Medications: The Courage to Confront Healthcare Inequality
Gorman’s mission was never limited to delivering tablets.
Throughout her humanitarian journey, she encountered maternity wards without reliable electricity, essential equipment or adequate medical resources. She witnessed healthcare professionals working tirelessly despite overwhelming obstacles.
Her memoir also recounts political instability, dangerous journeys, heartbreaking medical emergencies and the financial challenges that threatened the charity’s future.
Nevertheless, she continued advocating for mothers whose survival often depended on circumstances beyond their control.
A Family Tragedy That Gave the Mission Deeper Meaning
Perhaps the most emotional revelation in WOMANSLAUGHTER concerns Gorman’s paternal grandmother, Hannah Granville, who died during childbirth in 1915.
Decades later, Gorman discovered that Hannah had died from catastrophic postpartum haemorrhage, the very complication her humanitarian efforts sought to prevent.
This extraordinary connection transformed her mission into a deeply personal legacy spanning generations.
An Inspiring Legacy Worth Discovering
Although Life for African Mothers began moving towards closure in 2026 following significant funding and sustainability challenges, its humanitarian achievements remain an important part of Gorman’s story.
Through WOMANSLAUGHTER, Angela Gorman MBE offers readers an honest, moving account of courage, healthcare inequality and the extraordinary impact of ordinary people who refuse to ignore suffering.
Her story reminds us that meaningful change often begins with one simple decision: choosing to help.
Discover the extraordinary 20-year journey behind WOMANSLAUGHTER: A Personal Journey Through The Tragedy of Maternal Mortality by Angela Gorman MBE.
Get your copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HN2Z66L6/