Updates

New York—A new fund dedicated to improving the health of mothers in developing countries will try out some innovative approaches, offer original arguments and set firm performance standards as it gears up over the next four years, according to those closest to the action.

Speaking at an evening reception for Women and Children First, Sarah Brown said: "What always surprises me is how few people are aware of the scale of the maternity mortality around the world. Maternal mortality must not be the forgotten target in the Millennium Development Goals. It needs to be addressed in the same way as other major health problems, such as malaria, and should have its own global plan of action."

UNITED NATIONS, New York— On March 5th, the United Nations announced that FCI is the 2008 winner of the UN Population Award in the Institutional Category. This award honors an organization "in recognition of outstanding contributions to increasing the awareness of population questions and to their solution." Ann Starrs, FCI's President, stated "FCI is thrilled to be recognized for our work to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for women around the world. It is significant that an organization that focuses on MDG 5 – preventing maternal mortality – was honored this year. This award recognizes, as well, the tremendous efforts of our partners, who have been side by side with us in our on-the-ground projects in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and our 20 years of advocacy to ensure that maternal health and sexual and reproductive health are placed squarely on the global agenda." The award will be presented at the UN on May 22nd. FCI is only the 4th US-based organization to win this award since it was established in 1983.