President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama's visit to Africa this weekend "will send a powerful message to the world about their commitment to ensuring Africa's continued progress," wrote Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) in an opinion piece in http://thehill.com/op-eds/improving-maternal-health--in-developing-countries-2009-07-07.html">The Hill.
Updates
Budget Analysis and Maternal Mortality
June 24th, 2009
Barriers to Ending Maternal Deaths
June 19th, 2009
Just when you think you've got it all figured out! We just found an article from AllAfrica.com about doctors in Ghana who have had to halt special prenatal home visits because road crash casualties are taking up so much of their time and scarce resources, medical workers say.
Maternal Health is a Human Right
June 12th, 2009
In a fantastic op-ed in the Boston Globe, Mary Robinson and Alicia Yamin, advisory council members of the International Initiative on Maternal Mortality and Human Rights, discuss the issue of preventable maternal deaths as a violation of women's rights.
Progress on Health-Related MDGs
May 21st, 2009
The Millennium Development Goals were set with the target deadline of 2015. We probably don't have to tell you -- we are not even close. In fact, MDG 5 (reduce maternal mortality) is the most off-track of all the MDGs, as stated by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
New Report on Maternal Morbidity
May 14th, 2009
Maternal morbidity is an issue that sometimes gets left off the table when it comes to discussing and advocating for maternal health.
Mother’s Day Around the World
May 8th, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009, is International Mother’s Day. While it is a time to honor our own mothers, this day should also remind us of the 500,000 women who die every year from complications due to pregnancy and childbirth, and spur us to take action.
Maternal Mortality and Human Rights
April 30th, 2009
Check out the new website of the International Initiative on Maternal Mortality and Human Rights (IIMMHR).
Leadership for Health: Looking Back
April 28th, 2009
Last week’s amazing meeting of some of Africa’s most conscientious First Ladies showed that the momentum we felt take hold at the Women Deliver conference in 2007 — the awareness and concern about the grim challenges that too many mothers confront when attempting to give life — is gaining strength.
Expanding Access to Plan B
April 27th, 2009
Leadership for Health: The Grand Gala
April 22nd, 2009
Last night was the gala organized by US Doctors for Africa. Nineteen First Ladies were there, or were represented, along with celebrities like Sharon Stone, Danny Glover, and even Paris Hilton. It was a terrific start to a 5 year effort by US Doctors for Africa and African Synergy.
Leadership for Health: Speech from Jill Sheffield
April 22nd, 2009
The following is the speech Jill Sheffield prepared for the African First Ladies Health Summit in Los Angeles (a portion of this written speech was delivered).
Leadership for Health: What it Means to Be a First Lady
April 21st, 2009
Yesterday, the Leadership for Health: African First Ladies Health Summit kicked off to an amazing start. Maria Shriver gave a welcome speech to the participants of the meeting (over 300 people!) that was absolutely fantastic.
Leadership for Health: What to Tackle First?
April 21st, 2009
The First Ladies know the daunting tasks ahead of them: today one said so poignantly, “Illness has taken Africa hostage.” One delegate reminded us of the devastating toll that AIDS is taking on their economies; she described how AIDS is a multiplier of poverty, orphaning more children, killing more mothers, and reducing families to rubble.
Leadership for Health: Speech from Sarah Brown
April 21st, 2009
The following is the keynote address Sarah Brown delivered to the African First Ladies Health Summit today in Los Angeles, organized by USDFA and African Synergy. (Originally posted on HuffingtonPost)
Leadership for Health: Arianna Huffington to Moderate
April 17th, 2009
I just found out that Arianna Huffington will be the moderator of my panel, “Moving Beyond Rhetoric to Improve Women’s Lives.” I love reading the Huffington Post during the week, especially their Women’s Health and Millennium Development Goals coverage, and I’m really looking forward to hearing her ideas and opinions on our topic.
Leadership for Health: Checklist for First Ladies
April 17th, 2009
I'm about the get on the plane to Los Angeles for the Leadership for Health: African First Ladies Health Summit. Just before I left, my team equipped me with a checklist to hand to all the First Ladies at the event.
Leadership for Health: Getting Corporates to Invest
April 14th, 2009
At the Leadership for Health Summit, I’m planning to talk with the 22 African First Ladies who are attending. But, my other target group at this conference will be the corporate representatives.
African First Ladies: Time to Change the World for African Girls and Women
April 13th, 2009
Next week I have the privilege of joining some pretty amazing women at “Leadership for Health: Africa First Ladies Health Summit” in Los Angeles.
MCH in Rwanda
March 26th, 2009
To celebrate Mother and Child Health Week in Rwanda, Global Health Progress (GHP) held a roundtable discussion with maternal and child health-focused organizations operating in Rwanda to learn more about ongoing projects promoting the health of women and children.