http://www.womendeliver.org/updates Women Deliver News en info@womendeliver.org Copyright 2012 2012-02-03T21:47:57+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/calling-for-nominations-women-deliver-50-inspiring-ideas-solutions-to-deliv/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/calling-for-nominations-women-deliver-50-inspiring-ideas-solutions-to-deliv/#When:18:24:20Z     Every year, in conjunction with International Women’s Day, Women Deliver celebrates the progress made on behalf of girls and women worldwide. Our Women Deliver 100 list in 2011, which featured 100 of the most inspiring people who have delivered for girls and women, was covered by over 100 traditional and new media sources. This year, to continue the momentum, we are spotlighting the top 50 inspiring ideas and solutions that deliver for girls and women. We would love to hear what you think are the most innovative, impactful, and promising advancements in overcoming gender inequality. Read more... News 2012-01-25T18:24:20+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/exciting-updates-from-women-deliver/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/exciting-updates-from-women-deliver/#When:21:47:57Z 2012 is already shaping up to be a year of progress and forward-thinking, particularly as we begin to construct a new development framework. Convening global and regional experts, engaging young people and revolutionizing funding for projects focusing on girls and women will be critical steps forward. With this in mind, the Women Deliver team has been hard at work planning for the 2012 Regional Consultations and the next global conference in 2013 in Kuala Lumpur; developing a funding platform; planning for the Commission on Population and Development; and continuing to advocate for the health and well-being of girls and women worldwide. We’re excited2012 is already shaping up to be a year of progress and forward-thinking, particularly as we begin to construct a new development framework. Read more... News 2012-02-03T21:47:57+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/michelle-bachelet-outlines-action-agenda-to-advance-equality-as-un-women-co/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/michelle-bachelet-outlines-action-agenda-to-advance-equality-as-un-women-co/#When:20:31:50Z Statement Of Ms. Bachelet On UN Women One Year Anniversary: Calls for global mobilization and commitment to women’s rights as political and economic changes continue worldwide New York, 2nd February — At a press conference in New York today, UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet called for galvanizing greater commitment and action for women and gender equality, as political and economic upheaval threaten progress on women’s rights (remarks enclosed here). She called the press conference to report on the first year of operations of UN Women. With austerity measures, budget cuts and political changes impacting women’s lives, worldwide, Ms. Bachelet outlined the action agenda of the organization in her first press conference of 2012. Read more... News 2012-02-02T20:31:50+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/komen-foundation-cuts-funding-to-planned-parenthood-for-breast-cancer-scree/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/komen-foundation-cuts-funding-to-planned-parenthood-for-breast-cancer-scree/#When:18:38:24Z Yesterday, The Susan G. Komen Foundation announced that they will no longer provide grants to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings and breast health education programs. Grants from Komen were used to fund nearly 170,000 breast exams over the past five years. Read more... News 2012-02-01T18:38:24+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/why-a-daughter-is-not-an-apology/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/why-a-daughter-is-not-an-apology/#When:19:47:46Z By: Joanna Hoffman, Special Projects Manager Last week, 22 year-old Storai Mohammed was strangled to death by her husband and mother-in-law for giving birth to a girl, and not the son they had demanded of her. Her husband fled, but his mother was detained and told police that Storai “felt guilty” for bearing three daughters and committed suicide.  In Afghanistan, as in many parts of the world, newborn sons are celebrated while girls are met with disappointment, fewer opportunities and a stifling lack of autonomy. Read more... Blog 2012-01-31T19:47:46+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/celebrate-solutions-farming-for-a-healthier-future/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/celebrate-solutions-farming-for-a-healthier-future/#When:13:00:13Z By: Janna Oberdorf, Director of Communications and Outreach for Women Deliver At the Tamlega Dispensary in Chwele, Kenya, pregnant women who arrive for check-ups leave with an unusual prescription: a voucher for sweetpotato vines. The goal is to leverage the untapped potential of sweetpotatoes, a food crop rich in vitamin A, to significantly improve the nutrition, incomes, and food production of farming families in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among impoverished women and children. The project, “Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa (SASHA),” was launched in eight sub-Saharan African countries in 2009 by the International Potato Center (CIP), with support from a five-year, $21 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Read more... Blog 2012-01-30T13:00:13+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/gates-foundation-every-woman-should-have-access-to-family-planning/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/gates-foundation-every-woman-should-have-access-to-family-planning/#When:22:03:37Z By: Joanna Hoffman, Special Projects Manager  This week, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation released their annual letter from Bill Gates, identifying family planning as a priority area for 2012. When women have access to family planning, Gates explains, poverty is reduced, more children are educated, and governments are better able to meet the needs of their people. This allows governments and citizens to benefit from the “demographic dividend”, referring to decreases in family size resulting in a higher number of educated youth. When these youth reach working age, they boost productivity and economic growth for their country. Read more... Blog 2012-01-27T22:03:37+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/the-global-fund-to-fight-aids-tuberculosis-malaria-celebrates-10th-annivers/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/the-global-fund-to-fight-aids-tuberculosis-malaria-celebrates-10th-annivers/#When:16:50:19Z Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Announces $750 Million Contribution to the Global Fund, Affirming Support for the World's Largest Global Health Financier WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Gates Foundation Co-chair Bill Gates announced a $750 million contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The funds are committed in a promissory note, a new and innovative funding mechanism that will provide the Global Fund with the flexibility to distribute funds based on immediate program needs. The contribution will help finance Global Fund-supported programs in 150 countries, and comes just two days before the Global Fund's 10th anniversary on January 28. Read more... News 2012-01-27T16:50:19+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/corporate-buzz-lifeway-foods-joins-christy-turlington-to-promote-maternal-h/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/corporate-buzz-lifeway-foods-joins-christy-turlington-to-promote-maternal-h/#When:14:00:05Z By: Joanna Hoffman, Special Projects Manager Last week, Lifeway Foods announced the launch of its national Every Mother Counts Sweepstakes and fundraising campaign to support maternal health. Founded by model, filmmaker and maternal health advocate Christy Turlington Burns, Every Mother Counts is an advocacy and mobilization campaign to increase education and support for maternal health worldwide.  Lifeway is a leading supplier of kefir and organic kefir cultured dairy products. Specially-marked bottles of Lifeway’s Lowfat Kefir will contain entry codes on the bottle cap, which can then be entered into the sweepstakes app at the Lifeway Kefir Facebook Page. All entries for the grand prize must be received before March 11 and the winner will be announced on March 14. Read more... Blog 2012-01-26T14:00:05+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/women-deliver-partners-with-the-international-museum-of-women-in-online-exh/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/women-deliver-partners-with-the-international-museum-of-women-in-online-exh/#When:15:16:16Z Women Deliver is proud to partner with the International Museum of Women for the launch of their new, online exhibition MAMA: Motherhood Around the Globe. Read more... News 2012-01-25T15:16:16+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/global-health-and-diplomacy-ghd-magazine-launches-at-the-world-economic-for/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/global-health-and-diplomacy-ghd-magazine-launches-at-the-world-economic-for/#When:14:59:36Z Davos, Switzerland – January 25, 2012 - Global Health and Diplomacy (GHD), a publication that provides a forum for communication between heads of state, health ministers, first ladies, civil society leaders, the private sector and global health experts, was launched today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This publication fills the existing gap in the dialogue between global health, diplomacy, development and security. For many years these discussions have been compartmentalized into different journals. Global health solutions need to be broad based and encompass all stakeholders, thus, a publication that allows government officials, civil society, the private sector and global health experts to engage, discuss and offer solutions is an absolute necessity. Read more... Press 2012-01-25T14:59:36+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/celebrate-solutions-engaging-men-as-partners-to-change-gender-based-inequit/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/celebrate-solutions-engaging-men-as-partners-to-change-gender-based-inequit/#When:14:14:07Z By: Mariko Rasmussen, Communications Specialist at Women DeliverGender can influence men’s and women’s health in profound ways; social expectations of what men and women should and should not do can directly affect attitudes and behaviors related to a wide variety of health issues. Often, it is men who decide the frequency and timing of sexual activity and whether or not to use contraceptives, sometimes through coercion or violence. Gender-based violence can contribute to the spread of HIV and sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), and lead to poor reproductive health outcomes for women. And because of women’s low status in many societies, maternal health services are not prioritized. Empowering women is a critical step to turning this around, but efforts cannot end there: men must also be actively engaged as partners in change. Read more...  Blog 2012-01-23T14:14:07+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/calling-all-mothers-calling-all-babies-introducing-huffpost-global-motherho/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/calling-all-mothers-calling-all-babies-introducing-huffpost-global-motherho/#When:20:30:26Z By: Arianna HuffingtonOriginally posted by: Huffington Post, Global Motherhood  I'm delighted to announce the launch of Global Motherhood, a new section within HuffPost Impact dedicated to the health and well being of mothers and babies around the world, and sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. Read more... Blog 2012-01-20T20:30:26+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/new-report-shows-increase-in-unsafe-abortion/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/new-report-shows-increase-in-unsafe-abortion/#When:17:41:41Z By: Joanna Hoffman, Special Projects Manager  The long-term decline of abortions worldwide has stalled, and unsafe abortions are now on the rise, according to Induced Abortion: Incidence and Trends Worldwide from 1995 to 2008, a report by the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organization (WHO) published yesterday by The Lancet. After a global decline in abortion rates from 35 per 1000 women in 1995 to 28 in 2008, progress has now stagnated.  The proportion of unsafe abortions out of total abortions has risen from 44% in 1995 to 49% in 2008. Read more... Blog 2012-01-20T17:41:41+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/unfpa-leader-wins-media-award/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/unfpa-leader-wins-media-award/#When:16:01:49Z UNITED NATIONS, New York, 13 January 2012—Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is a winner of the Population Institute’s 2011 Annual Global Media Awards for Excellence in Population Reporting. The awards, which are in their 32nd year, honour those who help raise public awareness of the challenges related to population and reproductive health. The Population Institute is a major United States-based non-governmental organization founded in 1969 to promote universal access to family planning information, education and services. Read more... Press 2012-01-19T16:01:49+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/melinda-gates-and-nick-kristof-answer-your-questions-part-iii/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/melinda-gates-and-nick-kristof-answer-your-questions-part-iii/#When:15:25:10Z By: Melinda French GatesOriginally posted by: the Impatient Optimists Melinda Gates and Nick Kristof recently returned from a three-day trip to Bangladesh. She, along with Nick, agreed to answer readers’ questions about development issues in that part of the world. Here is the third and final installment.  ELAINE HARRIS: Presumably Melinda is visiting Bangladesh to ascertain the needs specifically related to women and children and ultimately providing assistance. What an amazing position to be in. How will the needs be evaluated? How will the women and children of Bangladesh be involved in the solution? Thank you both for engaging in these humanitarian efforts. Read more... Blog 2012-01-17T15:25:10+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/celebrate-solutions-a-commitment-to-the-health-and-livelihood-of-indias-wom/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/celebrate-solutions-a-commitment-to-the-health-and-livelihood-of-indias-wom/#When:20:17:03Z By: Lindsey Taylor Wood, Communications Associate  Zubaida Bai’s relationship with postpartum infection is a personal one. As a consequence of unsanitary birthing conditions and practices, she contracted an infection that led to years of suffering. Rather than allow her misfortune to deter her work, the engineer turned social entrepreneur shifted her time and energy toward developing a clean delivery birthing kit that could help prevent the deaths of the nearly 600,000 women and nine million infants that lose their lives to postpartum infection each year. Read more...  Blog 2012-01-16T20:17:03+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/melinda-gates-and-nick-kristof-answer-your-questions-part-ii/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/melinda-gates-and-nick-kristof-answer-your-questions-part-ii/#When:19:51:38Z By: Melinda French GatesOriginally posted by: the Impatient Optimists Melinda Gates and Nick Kristof recently returned from a three-day trip to Bangladesh. To highlight the corresponding development issues, they agreed to answer reader's questions. This is the second installment of their three-part Q&A session. Q. COSIMA BARLETT: My comments do not in any way detract from the profound admiration I have for you and your Foundation but a simple question: why do you not concentrate more of your efforts on American children who are so lacking in so many important areas as statistics now show? Read more... Blog 2012-01-12T19:51:38+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/one-of-the-people-people/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/one-of-the-people-people/#When:16:07:46Z By: Kate Otto, Public Health ConsultantOriginally posted by: Huffington Post Impact "Oh you're one of the international people," a young nurse from Washington, D.C. said to me at last week's mHealth Summit, an annual gathering that attracted 3,600 participants this year (up from 300 attendees in 2009), united in their desire to use of mobile phones to improve health care quality and access. This woman was acknowledging my poster presentation -- a study on how text message alerts could improve maternal health in rural Ethiopia -- but her comment was delivered with such exasperation that I had to request she clarify her point. What did it mean that I was one of the "international people"? Read more...  Blog 2012-01-12T16:07:46+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/where-there-are-no-doctors-who-can-deliver-health/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/where-there-are-no-doctors-who-can-deliver-health/#When:18:18:31Z By: Carolyn S. Miles, President and Chief Executive Officer of Save the ChildrenOriginally posted by: Huffington Post Impact What do 1) Florence Nightingale, 2) Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and 3) Heathcliff Huxtable have in common? Yes, all are famous health workers. But what more sets them apart from others like Dr. House or Doogie Howser, M.D.? Tied to this answer is the key to addressing some of the world's greatest health challenges. Read more...  Blog 2012-01-11T18:18:31+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/melinda-gates-and-nick-kristof-answer-your-questions/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/melinda-gates-and-nick-kristof-answer-your-questions/#When:20:21:21Z By: Melinda French GatesOriginally posted by: the Impatient Optimists Melinda recently returned from a three-day trip to Bangladesh. She, along with Nick Kristof, agreed to answer readers’ questions about development issues focusing on that part of the world. Here is the first installment of the Q&A session reposted from Kristof's New York Times blog "On the Ground." Read more... Blog 2012-01-10T20:21:21+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/celebrate-solutions-making-maternal-health-affordable-for-all/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/celebrate-solutions-making-maternal-health-affordable-for-all/#When:15:42:53Z By: Joanna Hoffman, Special Projects Manager  In the early 1970s, Guadalupe Arizpe De La Vega read a newspaper article about a poor mother of nine children who was imprisoned after she stabbed herself in the stomach to prevent a tenth pregnancy. After visiting the woman in jail, De La Vega realized how limited information on and access to family planning services were in Mexico, and particularly for poor and marginalized women.   She then went on to found the private, non-profit Hospital de la Familia, which offers holistic, sliding-scale health care and counseling for the women of Juarez, Mexico. To date, the hospital has treated more than 1.7 million patients and overseen the healthy births of more than 116,000 babies. Read more... Blog 2012-01-09T15:42:53+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/mediaplanet-to-release-call-to-action-campaign-to-invest-in-women-and-girls/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/mediaplanet-to-release-call-to-action-campaign-to-invest-in-women-and-girls/#When:21:15:08Z NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Mediaplanet Publishing, the global leader in theme media, announced the release of the fourth installment of their "Investing in Women & Girls" publication series to hit newsstands on March 2-4, 2012. In alignment with International Women’s Day, the publication will raise awareness of the potential women and girls have as the world’s greatest untapped resource, highlighting the idea that investing in women and girls is crucial in achieving global economic progress, political stability and greater prosperity for women and men around the world. Read more... Press 2012-01-06T21:15:08+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/maternal-health-family-planning-a-matter-of-must/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/maternal-health-family-planning-a-matter-of-must/#When:16:13:12Z Originally posted by: FrontPage Africa By: Mae Azango, one of four African journalists to win a prestigious grant from the Pulitzer Center to cover reproductive health issues Family planning is now a serious problem in Africa, but many women in underdeveloped Countries are denied access to modern contraception due to inadequate supplies and isolation of rural dwellers in most instances. Other women are denied family planning methods because of cultural backgrounds and religious affiliation. One would ask why family planning is important and should be made an access free service. According to a report conducted by Women Deliver, every year more than 500,000 women and girls die from pregnancy related complications. This has amounted to one death every minute. Read more... Blog 2012-01-06T16:13:12+00:00 http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/will-you-join-our-conversation-on-womens-and-childrens-health/ http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/will-you-join-our-conversation-on-womens-and-childrens-health/#When:15:34:01Z By: Melinda French GatesOriginally posted by: the Impatient Optimists After an amazing amount of progress on  women’s and children’s health in 2011, I’m starting off 2012 by heading to Bangladesh. I’ll be learning even more about two of the biggest killers of children—pneumonia and diarrhea. Bangladesh has made incredible progress in recent years, reducing the number of childhood deaths by 65 percent since 1990. I’m excited to learn what they’ve done right and the challenges that remain.  While in Bangladesh, I’ll be joining Nick Kristof in answering questions from readers about maternal and child health on his New York Times blog “On the Ground.” Why these topics? Read more...  Blog 2012-01-05T15:34:01+00:00