This World

World's Busiest Maternity Ward (2013x11)

Air date: Oct 31, 2013

The head nurse in Manila's busiest maternity ward estimates that she has delivered 200,000 babies during her career. On a busy day, a hundred babies are born at the Jose Fabella hospital and women in labour lie four or five to a bed. Anita Rani travels to the crazy crowded capital of the Philippines, to see how the countries of the developing world are facing a future with a rapidly growing population by following the lives of three different women. Rosalyn, whose seventh child will have to survive on less than a pound a day; Rose, a middle-class mum who can afford the best care in the world; and Junalyn, on a journey out of the slums to a better life. Amid the drama of new life Anita finds a story of economic growth and hope in Manila. Across the developing world birth rates have plummeted, life expectancy has increased and young vibrant workforces are beginning to compete with the established economies of the West.