New campaign to halt maternal deaths
Pregnancy 300 times deadlier in least developed world
SYDNEY, 28 April 2010 – On the eve of Mother’s Day, UNICEF Australia has launched a major new campaign to combat the tragic rate at which women die during pregnancy or childbirth in developing countries.
UNICEF Australia Goodwill Ambassador and mother to two young children, Erica Packer, is giving her support to the campaign.
“It is tragic that women in the world’s poorest countries are 300 times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth than women in Australia and other developed countries,” she said.
“In Australia we take for granted the fact that we have hospitals and health professionals that ensure everything is done to keep both mother and child safe, but this is simply not the case for millions of women across the world.
“Many mothers never get access to a hospital and only the lucky few have a midwife or nurse in attendance when they give birth.”
UNICEF research shows that a mother in Timor-Leste has a one in 35 chance of dying in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications compared to Australian women who face a one in 13,300 risk.
It also shows that every year 500,000 women die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth complications and for every death, another 20 suffer illnesses or injury, often with severe and lasting consequences.
Yet most of these conditions are preventable or treatable. Up to 80 per cent of maternal deaths could be averted if women had access to essential maternity and basic healthcare services.
UNICEF’s campaign seeks to raise awareness of maternal health issues and also to provide a way for everyday Australians to make a difference. The aid agency has released a new maternal health kit as part of its Gift that Gives range.
The Maternal Health Kit is designed for a delivery room or maternity ward and contains basic medical supplies that will help improve maternal care for mothers and babies in developing countries or in emergency situations.
At a cost of $200, the kit will be used to perform safer deliveries by trained personnel such as midwives, nurses and physicians. Australians will be providing a mother-to-be in a developing nation with essential services for a safer birth, and in doing so will be helping a newborn baby get a better start in life.
UNICEF Gifts that Give are special because they give twice – they give the receiver a great sense of satisfaction and they help the world’s most vulnerable children. A gift card will be set to the recipient with details of what they are helping achieve.
Ms Packer said the new UNICEF kit would save the lives of countless women.
“As Mother’s Day approaches, I can’t think of a more worthy present,” she said.
“I would encourage Australians, especially mums, to support this campaign and to get together and purchase as many kits as possible.”
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
For more information, please contact:
Martin Thomas, UNICEF Australia
0401 332 399
mthomas@unicef.org.au
Martha Tattersall, UNICEF Australia
0421 570 393
mtattersall@unicef.org.au