PIP: Dayas, Egypt's traditional birth attendants, deliver more than 50% of the babies born to mothers living in rural or low-income urban areas of Egypt; they are probably the main source of maternal health care and advice in the areas they serve. Since 1989, the Child Survival Project has equipped, trained, and certified over half the dayas in Egypt, enabling them to refer and accompany women to hospitals and health centers for prenatal and emergency obstetric care. Training of dayas had previously been introduced in the early 1900s; however, it was discontinued in 1963 when it was believed that there were enough obstetricians to handle births. Since women continued to use the dayas, the practice was legalized in the 1980s and UNICEF began a 10-day training course to improve daya skills. This course became part of the Project, and 14,000 dayas have completed it (about three-quarters of the dayas in the country). Compared to 10 years ago, dayas now handle deliveries better, refer women more often for prenatal care and tetanus toxoid immunizations, send complicated deliveries to hospitals more promptly, pay more attention to neonatal health, and are more aware of danger signs during delivery. They also now advise breastfeeding immediately after birth.