In the East Asia and Pacific Region, maternal mortality ratios in most countries have been unchanged over the past decade. The same is true for levels of malnutrition reflected in unchanging levels of underweight in children, short stature in women and anaemia throughout the population, particularly in pregnant women. These problems are not parallel but inextricably linked b intergenerational patterns of neglect of both women's access to health services and to adequate nutrition and care. This strategy outlines as approach to lowering both maternal mortality ratios and maternal and child undernutrition by increasing access to existing Emergency Obstetric Care Facilities, and by targeting the smaller but substantial number of preventable causes of maternal death and disability. Measures are described to prevent and treat nutritional and other basic health problems like anaemia, malaria, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, etc. The focus of this new strategy is on the pre-pregnant woman, as it is believed that the impact of previous interventions has been blunted by reaching the woman too late prenancy.