member spotlight

Momentum and excitement growing in Australia!

In May, Australian Volunteers International’s CEO, Dimity Fifer, the new President of the emerging national alliance in Australia, joined a number of high profile Australians including Thérèse Rein, Australian business woman and wife of Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, at a lunch organised by the alliance in Australia to galvanise support for the initiative.

Attendees represented the breadth of the Australian community, including the Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, the Hon. Bob McMullan; the national Secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation; the head of the Commonwealth Department of Health; representatives from the Australian College of Midwives and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; Indigenous and business community leaders; the Nossal Institute for Global Health and Burnet Institute; and other international development organisations.

There is strong and steadily increasing support for the Australian campaign from women nationwide in all states and territories as they join the international coalition of individuals and organisations working to advance women's health and women's rights everywhere.

The alliance anticipates an official launch of the Australian campaign in late September/early October 2010. The campaign will focus on safe motherhood in the region, from Timor-Leste to Papua New Guinea and across the Pacific, and also highlight the very real issues facing Indigenous women in Australia. It will inform and influence public debate about the need to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for all women and newborns within the region.  

 


 

 

 

 Longtime WRA Member & Supporter Ina May Gaskin Awarded Honorary Doctorate for Demonstrating Effectiveness and Safety of Midwifery

 

Ina May Gaskin, of Summertown, Tennessee, was awarded the title “Honorary Doctor” by the Thames Valley University, London, England, on November 24, 2009. The award was presented by the faculty of the Health and Human Sciences division of the University in recognition of her work in demonstrating through midwifery and natural childbirth that women’s bodies still work as they were designed. Gaskin accepted the award in the Grand Auditorium of Wembley Stadium before an audience of 600.

With the honorary degree, Gaskin is now a PhD(Hon.), as well as a CPM, Certified Professional Midwife. She is Executive Director of the Farm Midwifery Center, which she helped found in 1971; the center has handled more than 2600 births, with statistics showing much better than average outcomes. Gaskin herself has attended more than 1200 births. She is author of Spiritual Midwifery, now in its fourth edition, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, and a new book, Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding.

Gaskin transformed her observation of increasing maternal mortality in the United States into The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project, a national effort to honor women who have died of pregnancy-related causes and to draw public attention to the high maternal death rate in the U.S.

Her promotion of a low-intervention but extremely effective method for dealing with one of the most-feared birth complications, shoulder dystocia, has resulted in that method being adopted by a growing number of practitioners. The Gaskin maneuver is the first obstetrical procedure to be named for a midwife. Gaskin learned it from a Belizean midwife, who had learned it from indigenous midwives in Guatemala. 

Congratulations Ina May!  Click here to learn more about Ina May Gaskin's work. 

 

"Volunteering for WRA" by Ghada Khan

 

A wise man once said: “Paradise lies beneath the feet of Mothers”, referring to the path to eternal happiness that one can only achieve by honoring the mother, due to the pivotal role maternity plays in our very existence.  Though a long time promoter of women’s health, rights, and an advocate for the reinstitution of women’s role in cultures that have gradually forgone the female position in society, my understanding of this piece of wisdom did not fully materialize until the moment I heard the cries of my first born daughter ring sweetly in my ears after a prolonged and complicated labor. That is when I realized just how fortunate I was to have been given the chance to actually hold my child in my arms, watch her open her eyes, nurse her to good health and subsequently see her grow. Immediately my heart went out to those who were not as fortunate as I was. As a female who grew up in the Middle East, I have seen and heard of many stories of unlucky mothers, women who have died on their path to motherhood, women who were unable to hear the cries of their newborns, women who were debilitated from labor and frequent consecutive pregnancies, and mothers who regularly lost their children either to disease or tyrant spouses. Their plight seemed all the more significant to me after my own experiences, and I decided to make their struggle a priority in my life. Since then I have undertaken various roles in the Maternal Health field, initiating various pregnancy and family planning support groups, becoming a lactation consultant & prenatal nutrition educator, and pursuing a Master of Public Health Degree from George Mason University. 

In the White Ribbon Alliance I found a group that is completely aligned with my goals and an ideal organization that utilizes strategic partnerships to effectively find ways to make pregnancy and childbirth a pleasant and safe experience for mothers worldwide.  Hence, I sought to promote WRA to all those around me, constantly talking to friends, family, neighbors and fellow students in an effort to promote WRA membership so that the organization can benefit from the variety of ideas that a diverse constituency can offer. Giving presentations for WRA during Maternal Health related seminars and lectures was another avenue for me to increase awareness of Global Maternal Health issues among students, and the subsequent work the WRA does in an effort to ensue significant change in the field. Tabling for WRA during various campus events has not only helped collect donations for the WRA, but has also been a great way to interact with students who truly have much to offer to the cause.  

What I have learned and experienced during these volunteering events is that initiating small changes in people’s perception is key to subsequent global change. In the many voices and perspectives I have heard, there is much wisdom and humbling sincerity, as well as a sense of hope that new generations can create a better world.  I will play my part for my two children and for all the mothers who should not have to lose their lives while giving existence to another, for it is only with a mother’s wisdom, care and guidance that vitality can be sprung into the lives they give. 

 

WRA Member, Pashtoon Azfar, speaks on Capitol Hill 

 Photo: Women's Policy Inc.

White Ribbon Alliance member Pashtoon Azfar, President of the Afghan Midwives Association, spoke on on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on June 14th at an impressive Women's Policy Inc. briefing for Maternal Health in Afghanistan: How Can We Save Women's Lives?  Although Afghanistan has the highest infant and second highest maternal mortality rates in the world, the Afghan Midwives Association is making significant strides and Afghanistan has experienced a three-fold increase of women accessing skilled care during delivery since 2002.     

Remarks were made by Congressional Representatives Judy Biggert, Lois Capps, Susan Davis, Kay Granger, Carolyn Maloney and Gwen Moore, and the Honorable Ambassador Paula Doriansky and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer affirmed U.S. commitment to support expansion of women's rights and investments to strengthen health systems.  His Excellency, Afghan Minister of Health, S.M. Amin Fatimie highlighted Afghanistan's successes while detailing the work that lay before the country to continue to improve maternal health.

 

Mother's Day Celebrated in Afghanistan

Mother's Day was celebrated across Afghanistan this June - and a special event was held in the Nangarhar Province in cooperation with the United Medical Center for Afghans and Rehabilitation Program for Afghanistan (UMCA/RPA), the Ministry of Public Health, WRA organizational member the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), and others.  The event featured speeches and dramas to raise awareness about issues related to safe motherhood. 

 

  

While attending a ceremony recognizing health providers for improvements in the quality of health services WRA Members (from left to right) Naseer Ahmad Oriakhail, Denise Byrd and Naweed Ahmad Nayib were photographed - all wearing their white ribbon pins!  Thank you for representing the WRA and playing your part - to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for all women and newborns. 

 

Members' activities in the UK

From getting active to getting creative, fitness and art have been the order of the day for our UK members raising awareness for the Million Mums campaign and the White Ribbon Alliance's work worldwide.

Getting healthy for maternal health; Rachel Rowe, Mary Stewart and David Puddicombe completed the Mazda Blenheim Triathlon on the 6th of June raising a fantastic £577.

Pushy Mother Instructor Zoë Blackery has taken steps to raise awareness through the Million Steps sponsored walk, asking groups or individuals to raise funds for Million Mums by getting fit! Another Pushy Mother Instructor Debbie Donaldson is holding a week long Million Steps Challenge to make people aware of our issue and raise funds.

Katie Thorne, Sarah Haynes and Cat Watson will also be hiking for maternal health in 2010 when they climb to the summit of Mont Blanc, the 11th highest peak in the world.

Awareness through art has also been a trend recently, with Glenwood High School of Glenrothes in Scotland raising awareness through sponsored drama improvisation on the theme of maternal health, and creating mothers day cards, among other activities. 

In July Fran Monk launched her exhibition 'Entering Motherhood' in Venetia's Coffee Shop in Hackney, raising awareness for half the women of the world who give birth with no skilled health worker to assist them.

At Hay Festival in Wales this year, a UK member, Julie Grigg, local GP and co-founder of Hay 2 Timbuktu, highlighted the work of the White Ribbon Alliance at her art stall. They raised money and awareness whilst producing beautiful posters! Hay 2 Timbuktu is a maternal health project in Mali, which is going from strength to strength.  WRA also had a presence at the Wales for Africa Conference in July, where our work was introduced and discussed with the delegates.

This is just a taster of all the activities that are happening with the Million Mums Campaign, check out the website for more info. www.millionmums.org.

 

WRA Members in the Netherlands Closer to Becoming an Affiliated WRA National Alliance

They will officially become a Foundation by the end of August with elected officers and will have legal status in the Netherlands.  WRA-NL has been very active in seeking new membership and spokespeople within the country.  To sign up as a member, donor or interested person or for more information, contact Karien at: wra-nl@live.nl.

 

  JOICFP launches art exhibit - Let's Make Mothers Happy All Over the World!

WRA organizational member and supporter of the Global Maternal Mortality campaign, the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), held an art exhibit, May 7th-10th, in observance of Mother's Day. The stunning exhibit featured 1,500 drawings of carnations created by individuals across Japan - one carnation dedicated to every mother who dies in pregnancy and childbirth each day around the world - and remarkable photos of mothers and newborns by world-class photographer Takeshi Uchibori. 

More than 15,000 individuals passed through Tokyo's Sony Mediage Building Atrium over the weekend and many joined celebrity speakers, including former Fuji TV anchors Maya Masai and Shio Chino, JOICFP and other WRA members to raise public awareness and promote international cooperation. 

 

Netherlands: 3rd Annual Mother's Night 2009

Celebrated on the eve of Mother's Day in Rotterdam, Mother's Night raised awareness of Millennium Development Goal 5 - to reduce maternal deaths by 75% by 2015. Regional events were held throughout the country, and WRA members in Amsterdam and Maastricht working to establish a National Alliance in the Netherlands introduced the Million Mums campaign to say NO to maternal death.  More information about this event can be found in Dutch here: http://www.moedernacht.nl/. 

 

WRA Members Connect Around the World!

Christine Gish, WRA member from Washington State, USA and registered nurse, went to Sierra Leone in March to volunteer.  By reaching out to the Global Secretariat, Christine learned about WRA organizational member Konima Development Association (KDA) in Freetown and their Coordinator, Edward Abu Sifoe.  Through this connection, Christine and Edward moved forward with plans to work together.  With the KDA, Christine conducted an instructional class for 30 traditional birth attendants (TBAs) at the Massah Memorial Clinic, to train them in strategies to reduce infant and maternal mortality and instruct them on referrals.   

TBAs are not to deliver in the villages but are instead mandated to bring their clients to a recognized health center for assessment and also accompany them there for delivery.  With this integrated mutual health care system, Sierra Leone aims to lower its high maternal and newborn mortality ratio.

 

International Day of the Midwife:
WRA teams up with the Royal College of Midwives

 In celebration of May 5th's International Day of the Midwife, the WRA teamed up with the RCM to distribute activity packs to groups of midwives in the UK to provide deserved attention to the importance of midwives and the urgent necessity to scale up investment in them worldwide.  The packs included the WRA film, Play Your Part, which was shown at a number of different venues across the nation, and midwives raised awareness and funds for the Million Mums campaign through all sorts of creative ways. A huge thank you to all those who took part!

 

Fulfilling a Promise to Ukamaka:
WINET Successfully Holds Government to Providing Free Healthcare for Pregnant Women

The Women Information Network (WINET) of Nigeria persists in their triumphant advocacy efforts to ensure safer pregnancy and childbirth for women of Enugu State.  They continue to feed into and amplify the momentum of the global movement taking place at all levels around the world to reduce maternal mortality.  Their grassroots efforts have succeeded in raising awareness of safe motherhood issues and educating the men and women of the rural community of Uroshi on their ability to pressure their elected representatives to take real action to fulfill their needs.  

WINET created a fabric panel for the WRA's Stories of Mothers Lost in August 2007 honoring Ukamaka Adonu - a young woman from Uroshi who was unable to access healthcare and died during her first pregnancy.  Turning to the State House of Assembly, WINET called upon them to provide free ante- and post-natal services so women like Ukamaka would not die these tragically preventable deaths.  WINET's efforts and demands were acknowledged.  Their advocacy, combined with the work of local government officials, made progress.  Enugu State launched free medical services for pregnant women and children under five years of age in December 2007. 

Stemming from this success, WINET has continued to advocate for Ukamaka's  community in the WRA's Promise to Mothers Lost campaign.  WINET held a series of community mobilization and advocacy meetings in Uroshi, which were attended by government officials, traditional rulers, health workers, men, women and youth.  The most pressing issue facing the community that emerged from WINET's meetings and discussions was the fact that Uroshi does not have a health center.  The nearest health center is more than a two hour journey and is not easily accessed - this was the ultimate factor contributing to Ukamaka's death. 

WINET championed this issue for Uroshi and arranged meetings with the Local Government Secretary and Supervisor for Health at their Council Headquarters with community representatives to discuss Uroshi's need for a health center.  Agreements were made that Uroshi Community elders would provide land where the health center would be built and the women would clear the land for this purpose and also locate an apartment to function as a preliminary health post while the health center building was under construction.  Throughout this campaign, WINET's efforts were recognized by various media outlets.  The Federal Radio Corporation Nigeria Enugu, Coal City FM radio station has broadcast this story on several occasions and local newspapers continue to keep the public updated on the community's progress. 

WINET is currently following up with advocacy efforts to see to the construction of a health center in the community so that pregnant women and children under five will be able to utilize and benefit from the statewide free healthcare program.  The health post in Uroshi is ready and awaiting inspection and approval of the posting of health workers by the Supervisor for Health.  In addition, efforts to finalize the building of the health center are being conducted by WINET and the Uroshi Community.

With their community mobilization and media advocacy, WINET and Uroshi fulfill their promise to their own Ukamaka Adonu, whose tragically preventable death is now acting to ensure other women's survival. 

Learn more about WINET by visiting their website: http://winetng.org/. 

 

Delivering change in Afghanistan: Fauzia's story

When Fauzia first became pregnant during the Taliban period in Afghanistan she had to walk two days through the mountains to reach the nearest provincial hospital that could help treat her high blood pressure. She gave birth to her first three children at home with only an untrained birth attendant by her side. It was her own experiences that prompted Fauzia, now 29, to help other women in her situation.  "I wished to become a midwife, to help other women, so that they would not have to experience the same difficulties as me," she says.

Today, Fauzia is one of the first midwives to graduate from Merlin's Community Midwife Education (CME) programme in the remote Takhar Province of Afghanistan. Originally from the capital Kabul, Fauzia moved to the mountainous province of Takhar when she married her husband, a religious leader. The students come from some of the most remote areas of Takhar and Baghlan Provinces and go back to work there, once they have qualified.

During the selection process to choose the students for the first midwife programme, community members put Fauzia forward as a candidate. She had the full support of her husband and rest of the family to start the training - although in general the programme found it difficult to gain community acceptance for the training of women, particularly from religious leaders. Fauzia was an extremely diligent and hard-working student throughout the programme, which ran for 18 months from October 2004 to April 2006. She passed the training successfully and is one of 21 students (out of an original 22) who graduated from Merlin's programme and found placements as midwives.

When she first started her work in Farkhar District Hospital in May 2006, Fauzia felt frightened to be alone with so much responsibility. But the training had prepared her well: "It feels all the time that my trainers are still looking over my shoulders [at] what I am doing, which gives me confidence."

For the first two months, Fauzia was the only midwife in the district hospital, the same hospital that had been unable to offer her any support when she was pregnant. After a few months, another qualified midwife joined Fauzia in her work. Together, they care for the many women and children of Farkhar district. Fauzia reports that, since she started her work, the number of babies delivered in hospitals has increased significantly. She carries out health education sessions with local women, to encourage them to come to the district hospital to give birth.

She also organises a monthly meeting with the female Community Health Workers (CHWs) and some of the practising, but untrained, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to discuss their activities, especially their referrals to the district hospital. In this way, she is helping to reduce the very high levels of maternal mortality in the region.

Since she graduated, Fauzia has delivered 65 babies in the hospital and three at home. She had dealt with all sorts of complications, from breech births to twin deliveries, and the treatment of women with pre-eclampsia.

"I am so happy to eventually have become a midwife, and now offer the women from my community a service, which can prevent them from dying unnecessarily," she says.

As Afghanistan still has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world - 1,600 women die for every 100,000 live births - the road is still long. But with the introduction of Merlin's midwife programmes across the country, women's chances for survival have now become a reality.

Merlin's country programme team compiled a detailed report about the first midwife training programme, which is available to download at www.merlin.org.uk.  (Photo © Merlin.)

 

Bridgwater Reggae Soundsystem proudly presents worldwide support for White Ribbon Alliance!

Raising funds and awareness through music, the mighty Bridgwater Reggae Soundsystem (BRSS) has grown from a small monthly club night in Somerset into an eagerly anticipated musical event, attracting supporters from all over the UK and beyond. 

And wherever the sound system goes - so too does the White Ribbon Alliance! For this dedicated group of (mostly) young people have adopted WRA as their principal cause.  

Founded in the small town of Bridgwater in 2006 by veteran DJ John Shearlaw (Mighty Mighty J) and his son, Arthur Shearlaw, the ranks of the collective have now expanded to include an impressive roster of DJs, MCs and musicians, as well as an essemble of speakers, decks and related equipment. 

But it's not just about the music. Since April 2007, when they played at the closing party for a health conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Bridgwater Reggae Soundsystem has been collecting donations for WRA, showing films made by WRA, as well as passing on the aims and objectives of WRA to an all-important young audience. 

Later this month, Arthur Shearlaw - currently DJing in Goa, India - will be visiting the WRA office in Orissa, India, along with fellow BRSS members, photographer Gordon Stavins and sound engineer Tai McVeigh, to pass on what we hope will be the first of many sizeable contributions to the operation there. 

Also this month, John Shearlaw will be returning to Dar es Salaam for ongoing work with the Tanzanian 'Capacity For Change' film project, a trip partly made possible by a special BRSS live fundraising event in Somerset featuring the Bristol-based band Mankala (www.mankalabeat.com). 

Meanwhile the reggae nights - and the fun, and the fundraising - continue in Somerset, and beyond. The White Ribbon Alliance banner now flies on the last Saturday of every month at the famous 93 Feet East club in London's Brick Lane, with BRSS partners Deviate, while BRSS will continue packing them in in Glastonbury, Bristol and Bridgwater.

Special thanks to Judd Selecta, Dub Quercus and 'In Dub We Trust'. Contact BRSS at www.myspace.com/bridgwaterreggaesoundsystem.
 

Reports

News

Contact