WHY WE DO IT (Part 1 of 4 Series)

I wanted to address some of the really important issues surrounding Maternal Mortality - so this is part 1 of 4 series. Keep checking back to read the other posts that go along with this series. 

I came across an article on the WHO website. I thought I would re-iterate some of what the article said and also post a part of the article, as this is the reason WHY we do what we do. The question posted in the article was - WHY DO SO MANY WOMEN STILL DIE IN PREGNANCY OR CHILDBIRTH?

Every minute, at least one woman dies from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. What does that mean exactly? 

That means 529 000 women die each year. Okay, well what does THAT mean?  Well, lets bring it home. 

529, 000 women dying each year is like all of the city of Mesa, Arizona dying each year. Or Tampa, Florida or Long Beach, California and even Atlanta, Georgia. Each of these cities have around 500,000 people living in it. Yes. It's a staggering number. In addition, for every woman who dies in childbirth, around 20 more suffer in injury, infection or disease - approximately 10 million women each year. That is one-third of the country Canada's population.

Well what are the medical issues? Well here are the facts from the WHO:
Five direct complications account for more than 70% of maternal deaths: haemorrhage (25%), infection (15%), unsafe abortion (13%), eclampsia (very high blood pressure leading to seizures – 12%), and obstructed labour (8%). While these are the main causes of maternal death, unavailable, inaccessible, unaffordable, or poor quality care is fundamentally responsible. They are detrimental to social development and wellbeing, as some one million children are left motherless each year. These children are 10 times more likely to die within two years of their mothers' death.

THIS IS NOT JUST A WOMEN'S ISSUE. SHARE THE FACTS WITH THOSE AROUND YOU. You can read the rest of the article at http://www.who.int/features/qa/12/en/index.html

Cheers,

Eujean

Take Our Cause With You

Take our cause with you and help spread the awareness of maternal mortality.

All you have to do is COPY and SAVE the image above. Then go to the "Layout" section of your blog (if you're using blogspot) and "Add Gadget". Then click on "Picture" and then click on "browse" and find the picture in the place you stored it. Click on it and click "Open". Then click "SAVE" on the button on the Layout section of your blog. Don't forget to click SAVE or else your blog won't know that you added this picture.

TAKE OUR CAUSE WITH YOU. BE A PART OF WWHI.

WOMEN DELIVER CONFERENCE

Here is an update of what WWHI is doing:

WWHI will be attending the June 2010 Women Deliver Conference in Washington D.C. (The conference funds were not from the WWHI funds) Women Deliver is a global advocacy organization bringing together voices from around the world to call for action against maternal death. You can check out more information at www.womendeliver.org  A few of the things that they will be addressing are Women and Power, Strategies to address STDs, Analyzing Progress etc. We are excited to learn and to be a part of this conference. We know and understand that Maternal Mortality is an issue that must be supported by the world. It cannot be helped by just one single organization or country. We must work together, share together and help together in providing solutions that are sustainable and effective. 

To find out more about the Women Deliver Conference you can check out their website at www.womendeliver.org

A Note From Canada

Hello bloggers! I am new to the blog so I thought I would introduce myself first. My name is Eujean Peterson and my husband (Michael Peterson) and I are so excited to be a part of Women's World Health Initiative.

It is certainly an issue that we are passionate about as we have a beautiful daughter who came into the world via C-section - and we are so grateful to the Doctors who delivered her safely. If you are reading this right now - you have come into the world safely due to an amazing woman and through the knowledge and power of modern medicine. Unfortunately, this is not the case in all parts of the world. Fortunately, there is now a charity that is able to give both the gift of knowledge and the power of modern medicine to women in all parts of the world. Women's World Health Initiative is different from any other charity out there right now.


WWHI will be following through the process of empowering women and helping them - EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Michael and I feel so honoured to be a part of this important effort. I know that every contribution you make - whether it's by simple emailing others to let them know about WWHI - or joining us on Facebook - or if you feel that you want to contribute financially once or every month - you will be taking steps with the women WE help together. Follow us on this blog and share with others the good news that WWHI is definitely a cause that everyone will want to be a part of.

Don't forget to FOLLOW us by clicking the top right button on this blog! I promise to write interesting posts about issues that are important to you.


Cheers,
Eujean

The Forgotten Girls.

I have seen great travesties in my travels. The victims are diverse. They speak different languages, are from different cultural and religious backgrounds, have different levels of education...but the one thing they share is gender. Girls are viewed, in most parts of the world, to have value in only two things: 1) hard domestic labour and 2) childbearing. Girls who are born into families in rural Senegal are especially prone to these designations. The average age of marriage is 12 - just before puberty. Most of the marriages are polygamous and are arranged. The girl is bought and paid for with no voice or opinion. She works hard until she menstruates. Then this girl is considered ready to fulfill her second duty - motherhood.

These girls have a 5 times higher risk of dying due to pregnancy complications. This is a 5 times higher than the already perilously high risk for women in their 20's. They are children. These girls are simply following the path that their mother and grandmother did before them.

We must break the cycle. Give these girls a voice of power. How? How can generations of tradition and belief change? The answer is not simple, but it is possible - keep the mothers alive and empower them with economic contributions and education opportunities. By resourcing these girls with opportunity, their value will move beyond mules and baby machines. They will produce goods and money for their families. Thus giving them power.

Do not forget these silent sufferers. Remember these forgotten girls.

Why This Year My Mom is Getting a Gift From WWHI

Written By Jennie Vuich, WWHI Volunteer Stafff

Last year my family didn’t celebrate Mother’s Day. We were too busy mourning the loss of the heart and soul of our family, my grandmother. This amazing woman taught me to be strong,courageous, giving, hopeful, and most importantly to be myself.

She showed me that laughter, especially when shared, can help even in the darkest times. I also learned from her that it’s okay to cry, it makes us human.

I saw from her how to handle everything life throws at you with grace and humility. I still want to be like her when I grow up.

How lucky am I to have someone like that to aspire to? Shouldn’t all girls?

While last year my grief and anger kept me from realizing how fortunate I am to have been able to know my grandmother for 28 years, this year Women’s World Health Initiative is giving me the opportunity to honor her and all she taught me.

My mom will get these flowers and a card and another mother will get to live. What could be a better tribute to the beautiful women who have shaped my life?