Celebrating Progress and Unifying Strategies to Save Lives
(Dar es Salaam) "We too share the agony and deep concern over the poor state of the country's infant and maternal health care systems and call for urgent measures to improve the situation and save children and mothers from what, we say, are unfair and unacceptable deaths."
Just days before the 2009 WRA Annual General Membership Meeting (AGM), WRA President Theresa Shaver and WRA Global Board Members Judi Brown and Jeremie Zoungrana traveled to Kampala to participate in the launch of the White Ribbon Alliance—Uganda (WRA-U). Uganda's Health Minister Stephen Malinga officially welcomed WRA-U as a vital partner in national efforts to meet targets to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. Singling out WRA-U for "illuminating this noble cause," Dr. Malinga said "In order to spur action we will need to work together and mobilize all the resources at our disposal. Stop doing business as usual and look at new and innovative approaches of doing things."
 |
| Launch of White Ribbon Alliance—Uganda (l to r): (seated) Dr. Josaphat Byamugisha, WRA-U Board & Mulago Hospital; Theresa Shaver, WRA President; Judi Brown, WRA Board & International Confederation of Midwives; Dr. Stephen Malinga, Uganda Minister of Health; Hon. Beatrice Rwakimari; Enid Mwebasa, WRA-U Board & Uganda Ministry of Health; and Sakina Kigundu, Uganda Private Midwives Assoc. (standing) Margret Hasha, WRA-U Board; Frances Ganges, WRA Senior Technical Advisor; Jeremie Zoungrana, WRA Board & JHPIEGO Rwanda Country Director; Janet Jackson, UNFPA Country Rep.; Dr. J. Musinguzi, WRA-U Board; Hon. Sarah Nyombi; David Sebugwawo, WRA-U Board & Consider Uganda; Hon. Sylvia Sinabulya; Hon. Winnie Matsiko; Elly Mugumya; Hon. Alisemera; Robina Biteyi, WRA-U National Coordinator; and Dr. Olive Sentumbwe, WRA-U Board. |
From the heartfelt welcome by White Ribbon Alliance—Tanzania (WRATZ) National Coordinator Rose Mlay to the rousing keynotes by WRA Global Patron Sarah Brown (read WRA news item and watch video) and Zambia's First Lady and Patron Thandiwe Banda (read speech)
to the dynamic plenary sessions on accountability and the health workforce, WRA members from more than 20 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and the South Pacific were challenged think and act globally, nationally and locally.
WRA also celebrated its 10th anniversary with a bang! Kicking off the AGM was a film capturing some of the highlights of the movement:
The Celebrating National Champions Awards Ceremony with Tanzania's First Lady Salma Kikwete, Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan and WRA Ambassador Stara Thomas was a highlight of the first day. The AGM captured the wealth of lessons, the scope of opportunities, and the upbeat urgency that fuels WRA members. Click here for coverage of the AGM by Tanzania's Daily News. A final report of the proceedings and outcomes will be available soon.
|
Whether during her first African Fashion for Relief on the AGM's opening night or her visit to the maternity ward at Temeke Hospital, WRA Global Ambassador Naomi Campbell played her part like only she can, amplifying her message – No woman should die giving life in childbirth – far beyond Dar es Salaam and energizing people from all walks of life to join the global movement. On the catwalk, Naomi and aspiring Face of Africa models wowed the packed hall with fashions by local designers, including a white gown created by Mustafa Hassanali that sparked a bidding showdown that raised $15,000 USD for WRATZ. Naomi brought the crowd to its feet to dance and celebrate when, flanked by WRA President Theresa Shaver, WRATZ National Coordinator Rose Mlay and leaders of WRA Alliances from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, India, and Nepal, she said she was looking ahead to organize another Fashion for Relief. Click here to watch them struck the cat walk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qaVfiC9G_s
Similarly, the next day at Temeke Hospital, Naomi buoyed the spirits of mothers and midwives and delighted an enthusiastic Tanzanian press corps while calling for more to be done to support skilled health workers, like the women in Temeke's maternity ward who "give everything they've got to help these ladies deliver their babies." Click here http://www.whiteribbonalliance.org/globalAmbassadorNC.cfm to see video of Naomi's visit to Temeke Hospital and Fashion for Relief Tanzania and here to read coverage by Tanzania's Guardian.
 |
| WRA Global Ambassador Naomi Campbell celebrates her first African Fashion for Relief with WRATZ National Coordinator Rose Mlay and WRA President Theresa Shaver. |
|
|
When the Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) and The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) joined forces to call for Canadian Parliamentarians to play their part to elevate MDGs 4 and 5 on the agenda of world leaders, maternal health champions in the Parliament responded. "Everyone in this room tonight believes fervently that no woman should die giving life… Our countries are signatories to the Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations' attempt to end poverty in the world by the year 2015. That commitment carries with it huge responsibilities towards women and their children," said Maureen McTeer, WRA Representative and SOGC National Council Member, during a December 2 reception for parliamentarians and NGOs where Birth and Death, a short animated film first released by WRA prior to the G8 Summit, was launched in French. Click here to see La Naissance et La Mort.
Honourable Sharon Carstairs, PC has introduced Motion 105 to the Canadian Senate that reads: "That the Government of Canada make the issue of maternal and child health a priority topic of G8/G20 discussions at the meetings scheduled in Canada in Spring 2010 in order that nations work in a united way to increase investments aimed at reducing global maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality."
The perfect start to a Mothers Day Every Day (MDED) Breakfast on Capitol Hill on December 4 was a preview by MDED Advisor Christy Turlington Burns of her soon-to-be-released documentary No Woman, No Cry. MDED Co-Chair Donna Shalala welcomed MDED Advisors Maria Cino, Ambassador Mark Dybul, Tammy Haddad, Anita McBride, and Mike McCurry to a campaign briefing and strategy session. Legislative staff representing maternal and newborn health champions Senators Chris Dodd and Dick Durbin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representatives Lois Capps, Rosa DeLauro, Mark Kirk and Adam Smith invigorated the discussion with suggestions to support USG increases in global health and prioritize maternal health as pivotal to women's empowerment, economic development and national security.
 |
Mothers Day Every Day Advisory Committee hosts breakfast on Capitol Hill (l to r): (standing) Tammy Haddad, President, Haddad Media; JoDee Winterhof, CARE Vice President Policy and Advocacy; Anita McBride, Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush; Mike McCurry, Former White House Press Secretary; Christy Turlington Burns, CARE Advocate for Maternal Health; Ambassador Mark Dybul, Georgetown University Senior Advisor to the President for Global Health; and Betsy McCallon, WRA Deputy Director. (seated) Secretary Donna Shalala, University of Miami President and Maria Cino, Pfizer Vice President of Government Relations.
Photo Credit: Allen Clinton/CARE |
|
It was hard to tell who was more honored when invited by WRA Global Patron Sarah Brown to the #10 Downing Tweet Christmas Party in support of the Million Mums campaign on December 4 where some of the UK's most enthusiastic Mums bloggers from Mums The Boss, Confident Ladies, Mumsnet and Mums Rock met up with celebrities from the worlds of fashion, media and the arts, including Kirstie Allsopp, Brian Friedman, Emma Freud, Kathy Hoppen, Dr. Christian Jessen, India Knight, Caitlin Moran, Krishnan Guru Murthy, Peter Serafinowicz and Claudia Winkleman, plus the team behind @WRAGlobal. The party was fantastic fun with R& B singing sensation Beverley Knight sharing her talent sans microphone, enhancing the evening's soundtrack of conversations about how those gathered could play their part to change the global scandal of a mum dying every minute. "Mums are the greatest and if #DowningTweet has helped www.millionmums.org even a little bit I'm sure it'll only be a matter of time before Number 10 plays host to #downingtweet:thesequel," said Sarah Brown. Click here to see photos, watch video, to join Million Mums and follow Sarah Brown on Twitter (http://twitter.com/sarahbrown10)
 |
| WRA Global Patron Sarah Brown and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcome Million Mums campaigners to Downing Tweet Christmas Party. |
|
|
We have much to celebrate as we reflect on 2009 and much to do in 2010!
Best regards,
Betsy McCallon
Deputy Director, White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood
bmccallon@whiteribbonalliance.org
202-777-0933
www.whiteribbonalliance.org
|
