Thérèse Rein issues Mother’s Day Challenge
SYDNEY, 4 May 2010 – Mother of three and wife of the Prime Minister, Thérèse Rein, has issued a challenge on the eve of Mother’s Day for Australians to help mothers in developing nations who face a terrible risk of death or injury during pregnancy or in delivering their child.
Ms Rein has called on families around Australia to forsake the usual gifts of chocolates and jewellery this Mother’s Day and give twice by purchasing UNICEF Australia’s newly released Maternal Health Kit.
The 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. The kit has been introduced to UNICEF Australia’s Gifts that Give range and can be purchased by Australians for $200.
“I think Australian mums who have gone through childbirth and know what a momentous occasion that is, also realise how lucky we are here in Australia to have unlimited access to health services and trained practitioners,” Ms Rein said.
“When we know that one in eight mums is dying in childbirth in Sierra Leone, or one in 35 in Timor-Leste, as mums and women, we feel for each other and want to reach out to make a difference.”
Ms Rein urged Mothers Groups to come together and purchase a kit between them to help save a life in a developing nation.
“This Maternal Health Kit from UNICEF is something practical that everyone can give. Australians can get their friends and colleagues together and contribute just a small amount each to buy a kit that is going to keep a number of mums alive. That really matters,” she said.
Women in developing nations are more than 300 times likely to die in childbirth than women in Australia. Worldwide, only 32 per cent of women give birth in a hospital or healthcare clinic. More than 500,000 women die each year from complications in childbirth or pregnancy and for every death, 20 more suffer permanent injury.
Mother of four-month old Alexis, Ms Elyse Chiert, is part of a mothers group that has banded together to purchase a UNICEF Australia Maternal Health Kit.
“As a mother it is hard not to be affected when I hear what is going on in other countries. The work UNICEF does is vital not only to provide the basic resources for hospitals but also to educate us here in Australia about the difficulties of childbirth across the globe,” she said.
UNICEF research shows that 80 per cent of maternal deaths could be averted if women had access to essential maternity and basic healthcare services, like those provided in UNICEF Australia’s Maternal Health Kit.
The Maternal Health Kit costs $200.
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