Africa Least Likely to Meet Health Targets Set by UN

A report by the World Health Organization finds Africa is the region least likely to achieve the health targets set by the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.

This year's World Health Statistics report provides a snapshot of global health trends. It shows significant progress has been made in a number of areas.

The report finds fewer children are dying. Globally, it says less than nine million children under age five died in 2008. This is down by 30 percent since 1990.

It says fewer children are underweight, fewer people are becoming infected with HIV, malaria deaths are decreasing and nearly 90 percent of the world's population has access to safe water.

Despite this progress, the report says the world is not on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. It says the region most off track and least likely to achieve the MDG targets is Africa, and to a lesser extent the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Carla Abou-Zahr is Coordinator of the Statistics, Monitoring and Analysis Department at the World Health Organization. While the outlook for Africa is generally grim, she notes some African countries are doing much better than others.

"If we just take child mortality, under five mortality, we have seen some enormous declines of over 40 percent in countries as diverse as Eritrea, Malawi, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Niger and Namibia. Several of these countries faced enormous challenges in the 1990s including civil conflict," she said.

Abou-Zahr says progresses for some interventions are better than others. For example, she says there is fairly good coverage almost everywhere in areas such as anti-natal care and immunization.

But she notes results are not as good in areas where a functioning health-care system is needed, such as skilled care during delivery or treatment for pneumonia or diarrhea.

"What really epitomizes this need for increased access to health system interventions is the fact that about 40 percent of deaths in children under five years old occur in the newborn period, that very critical time within the first few days and weeks of birth," she said. "And addressing that challenge of newborn mortality is also the same kind of challenge as addressing maternal mortality," said Abou-Zahr.

The report says improving newborn care in the first month of life is essential for reducing child deaths in developing countries. It notes maternal health remains the Millennium Development Goals target for which progress has been most disappointing. Nearly half a million women are estimated to die in childbirth each year.

The report says infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death in Africa and remains a major problem in India. But outside Africa, it says non-communicable diseases, such as tobacco use, alcohol and obesity are the leading cause of death.
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Africa-Least-Likely-to-Meet-Millennium-Development-Goals-93281684.html

Women Deliver 2010 Global Conference: THEME: "Delivering solutions for girls and women"

Women Deliver is a global advocacy organization bringing together voices from around the world to call for action against maternal death.

Launched at a groundbreaking conference in 2007, Women Deliver works globally to generate political commitment and financial investment for fulfilling Millennium Development Goal #5 — to reduce maternal mortality and achieve universal access to reproductive health. The initiative builds on commitments, partnerships, and networks mobilized at the conference, fighting to end the deluge of preventable deaths that kill between 350,000 - 500,000 girls and women from pregnancy-related
causes every year. Women Deliver’s message is that maternal health is both a human right and a practical necessity for sustainable development.

Women Deliver 2010, a global conference, will be held in Washington DC on June 7-9, 2010. The theme of the conference is: "Delivering solutions for girls and women," and we plan to focus on political, economic, social/cultural, and technological solutions. This global meeting will expand on Women Deliver's hallmark of inclusivity, reaching out to new partners and new communities. With all these partners in one room, we will further prove that maternal and reproductive health is a global priority. Women Deliver 2010 will move the dialogue to the global arena with two strong messages:
• The MDGs will not be achieved without investing in women.
• There is just enough time, if the world commits funding now, to achieve MDG5 — additional US$10 billion annually by 2010 and US$20 billion by 2015.
WHAT: Women Deliver 2010
WHEN: Monday, June 7 to Wednesday, June 9, 2010
WHERE: The Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Washington DC, USA

A History of Success: Quick facts about the 2007 Women Deliver conference
did you Know…
• There were over 2,000 participants from 115 countries.
• Participants included more than 100 government officials from more than 30 countries.
• 40% of the participants were men.
• The conference program included over 300 speakers inspiring dialogue and debate in 118 separate sessions over 3 days.
• The Ministers’ Forum brought together cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and civil society leaders from over 30 countries to shine a high-level policy spotlight on maternal and newborn health.
• The conference held 6 special plenary sessions during which no other sessions ran.
• There were 12 skills-building, strategy, and networking sessions on the last day that enabled participants to develop plans for future action.
• 17 launches of new campaigns, data, and publications in the Speakers’ Corner.
• 75 simultaneous sessions focused on the five conference themes of Women’s and Newborn Health, Promoting Women in the World, Expanding Financial Resources, Advancing Human Rights, and Building Political Will.
• All panels on youth issues featured young speakers.
The Women Deliver 2010 conference will build on all of these successes, and more! Register now.
http://www.womendeliver.org/conferences/


Agenda
The theme for the Women Deliver 2010 conference is “Delivering Solutions for Girls and Women.” The full agenda and schedule of events are still under consideration. Below is a brief outline of what you can expect for the 3-day conference.
Early registration will open June 6, 2010 at 2:00 pm.
June 6
9:30 am-4:00 pm Youth Workshop
2:00 pm-6:00 pm Early Registration
4:30 pm-6:30 pm Networking Reception: Ice Cream Social
June 7
8:30 am-10:30 am Welcome Address and Opening Plenary: Celebrate Progress and Sustain Momentum
11:00 am-12:30 pm Concurrent breakout sessions
11:00 am-12:30 pm Chairman's Session: Integration: Is It the Holy Grail?
12:45 pm-1:15 pm A Lunch Conversation with Melinda Gates
1:30 pm-3:00 pm Chairman's Session: Women and Power
1:30 pm-4:15 pm Concurrent Sessions
3:15 pm-4:15 pm Chairman's Session: Analyzing Progress: A Closer Look at the New Statistics on Maternal Mortality
4:30 pm-6:00 pm Plenary: Next Steps in Getting to MDG 5
6:00 pm-7:00 pm International Supper
7:00 pm-8:30 pm Cultural Night: Music, Poetry, Readings, and Film
June 8 Symposium: Technology As A Catalyst for Social Transformation
8:30 am-10:30 am Plenary: Modern Contraception Comes of Age
11:00 am-12:30 pm Chairman's Session: What’s On the Horizon?
11:00 am-12:30 pm Concurrent Sessions
12:45 pm-1:15 pm Lunch with… TBD
1:30 pm-3:00 pm Chairman's Session: Strategies to Address Sexually Transmitted Infections
1:30 pm-4:15 pm Concurrent Sessions
3:15 pm-4:15 pm Chairman's Session: Challenges in Meeting the Unmet Need for Contraception
4:30 pm-6:00 pm Plenary: Contraception’s Promise: A Better Life for the World’s Women
6:00 pm-8:00 pm Gala Reception
June 9
8:30 am-10:30 am Plenary: Girls Speak: Exploring the Girl Effect
11:00 am-12:30 pm Chairman's Session: Words Matter: Language That Reflects Our Values and Speaks to Diverse Experiences
11:00 am-12:30 pm Concurrent Sessions
12:45 pm-1:15 pm Lunch with… TBD
1:30 pm-3:00 pm Chairman's Session: Summing It Up: What Did We Learn and Where Are We Going?
1:30 pm-3:00 pm Concurrent Sessions
3:15 pm-4:45 pm Plenary: Women Need a World that Delivers
4:45 pm-5:00 pm The Last Word
Meetings and Events Sponsored by Other Organizations
June 5-6 Midwifery Symposium
June 6 PAC Consortium
June 6 DFID Consultation on Measuring Maternal Mortality
June 8 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Event hosted by Pathfinder International
June 8 Countdown to 2015
June 8 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm Latina Lunch

Featured Topics
Women Deliver will not be soliciting abstracts for panels or speaker presentations. Please see below for a list of the core themes that will be discussed at the conference.
The following topics will be the core themes (provisional) of our sessions:
1. Maternal & Newborn Health
Topics include: Transportation/Referral; Task Shifting/Sharing; Eclampsia/Pre-eclampsia; Post-partum Hemorrhage; Traditional Birth Attendants; Midwives; Nutrition; Maternal Mental Health – Postpartum depression and others; Commodities; and more.
2. Health of Girls and Women
Topics include: Men as Partners in Decision Making; Cancers; STIs; Fistula; Menopause; HPV Vaccines; Young women’s sexual health & education; Abortion; and more.
3. Family Planning
Topics include: Commodities; Cell Phone Technology; Male contraceptives; Long acting methods and user control; Offering access in rural communities; Emergency Contraception; Funding; and more.
4. HIV and AIDS
Topics include:Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV; Integration of Policies, Funding & Service Delivery (in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights); Prevention Diplomacy; Drug Development; Vaccines; Stigma and Discrimination; Treatment Access; and more.
5. Cross-Cutting Strategic Approaches
Topics include: Resources and Resource Flows
6. Advocacy and Activism
7. Health Systems Strengthening
8. Communication
9. Human Rights and the Law
Topics include: Violence; Refugees; Female Genital Mutilation; Women in Conflict Zones; Law Reform; Reproductive Rights; Applying Human Rights Framework to Maternal Mortality; Homophobia; and more.
10. Culture
Topics include: Girls’ Education; Religion & Ethics; Gender; Family; Sexuality; and more.
11. Development and Empowerment
Topics include: Women and Work; Poverty and Economics; Women and Power; MDG’s and ICPD; and more.
12. Climate and People
13. Youth
Topics include: Changing language/renewing leadership; HIV; Creating Networks/Coalitions; Child Marriage; New Technologies; Social Entrepreneurialism; and more.
14. Corporate Involvement
http://www.womendeliver.org/conferences/-2010-conference/agenda/


Registration

Registration for the Women Deliver 2010 conference is available now. Don’t miss out on this exciting, groundbreaking event.
Registration rates:
Regular Registration On-site Registration
Deadline: May 25, 2010 Available: June 6-8, 2010
$650 $800

*A special one-day pass will be available for Tuesday June 8, 2010 ONLY. This will permit the attendee access to the technology symposium to be held in the plenary hall. The fee for the day-pass is $250.
All conference participants, including invited speakers and presenters, should register for the conference.


Cancellation policy: Conference registration fees will be refunded for cancellations received on or before May 3, 2010, less a $125 administrative fee. No refunds will be granted after May 3, 2010 (No exceptions). Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via e-mail to registration2010[at]womendeliver.org. All refunds will be processed after the conference.
Please download the Invitation Letter from the Women Deliver conference organizers to take to your visa appointment

Ten Easy Ways to Make Every Mother Matter

This Mother's Day, Honor a Special Mother in Your Life by Supporting Safe Pregnancy and Childbirth for Women Everywhere
Recent research suggests a significant drop in the number of women dying in pregnancy or childbirth globally since 1980. And while this news is encouraging, with one woman dying nearly every minute of every day as a result of complications from pregnancy or childbirth, more must be done to put an end to these senseless deaths. Below is a list of ten easy things you can do to promote maternal health around the globe:
10. Learn about how women around the world can have safer pregnancies and births. Read about the inspiring works of Advocacy for Maternal and Infant Health in Nigeria, www.amihin.blogspot.com, and other advocacies in support of maternal and child health
9. spread the word that every mother matters. Tweet or post a message on Facebook about maternal health. Let your friends know that we don't have to wait for a medical breakthrough to save women's lives.
8. Honor a mother by including her on amihin Wall of Mothers. Post a picture and send a personalized e-card to your mom, friends and other powerful women you know. Stand in solidarity with mothers around the world and spread the word about AMIHIN work to save the lives of mothers everywhere. Go to www.amihin.blogspot.com
7. Reach out to a mother in Africa with an easy and dynamic web site. Go to www.amihin.blogspot.com, www.whiteribbonalliance.com , www.wellbeingfoundationnig.org to connect with women in Nigeria. Take a quiz or tell a friend and unlock $1 for women. Even better, make a donation. As low as N100 naira will go a long way, that’s less than a dollar.
6. Ask President Obama to urge global leaders to take action to help mothers and children everywhere. Visit www.momsrule.org to take action.
5. Join the ADVOCACY FOR MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH IN NIGERIA campaign. The campaign's goal is a bold step. But achievable, it is capable of 75 percent reduction in maternal deaths by 2015. Learn more at www.amihin.blogspot.com.
4. Urge your local Government Representative to support comprehensive maternal health legislation when it is introduced to help save the lives of women and children around the world. Send an email to your Member of Congress, post a comment on this page and go to: www.amihin.blogspot.com
3. Support organizations that make maternal health a priority. With more than enough years of experience and success developing and implementing maternal and child health programs, Wellbeing foundation is in a unique position to improve maternal and newborn health at the local, national and global levels. Wellbeing works directly with women and communities, empowering them with services and information while affecting policies to ensure that safe pregnancy and birth are a basic human right. Visit www.wellbeingfoundationnig.org to learn more.
2. Know that even a little goes a long way. $10 can provide food for a 3-day stay at a maternal waiting home for a mother from a rural community. Many hospitals in developing countries don't provide food for patients, so women are less likely to go to a hospital to give birth. Check: www.amihin.blogspot.com on how to go about it.

1. Share what you learn with others. When women learn that one woman dies nearly every minute of every day as a result of complications from pregnancy or childbirth, they want to take action. Make a pledge to speak with five women about the status of maternal health around the world and help ignite a wave of awareness and action that will ultimately save the lives of women and newborns everywhere.

Child marriage: Nigerian women set for showdown with FG

The National Council of Women Societies on Sunday disclosed their readiness to come out in their numbers to protest the marriage of former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani, to a 13-year old Egyptian girl.
In a statement made available to our correspondent in Lokoja, the National President of the body, Hajia Ramatu Usman, said the protest had become necessary since the Federal Government had not deemed it fit to investigate and sanction Ahmed.
They berated the government for not standing up to defend the girl’s interest, stating that the government’s silence implied that it approved of Sani’s action.
The NCWS, the umbrella women’s organisation in Nigeria vowed that its members would take to the streets if the government failed to show interest in the matter.
Usman explained that the child bride was likely to become pregnant at an early age and that there was a strong correlation between the age of a mother and maternal mortality.
She said, “Girls of ages l0-14 are five times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than women aged 20-24; and girls aged 15-19 are twice as likely to die. Young mothers face higher risks during pregnancies, including complications such as heavy bleeding, fistula, infection, anaemia and eclampsia, which contribute to higher mortality rates of both mother and child.
“At a young age, a girl has not developed fully and her body may strain under the effort of child birth, which can result in obstructed labour and obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula can also be caused by the early sexual relations associated with child marriage, which takes place sometimes even before menarche or first menstruation.”
She added, “Due to the limited autonomy or freedom of movement, young wives are not able to negotiate access to health care, unable to access health services because of distance, fear and expense or the need for permission from a spouse or in-laws. These barriers aggravate the risks of maternal complications and mortality for pregnant adolescents.”
Usman stated that the age disparity between a child bride and her husband, in addition to her low economic autonomy, further increased the girl’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
“It exacerbates the abilities of girls and women to make and negotiate sexual decisions, including whether or not to engage in sexual activity, issues relating to the use of contraception and condoms for protecting against HIV infection, and also their ability to demand fidelity from their husbands,” she noted.
While vowing to embark on the protest march, the group pledged that the mass action was not negotiable, because “a majority of Nigerians might begin to follow that same ignoble path Sani is treading if nothing is done urgently by the present administration.”
According to the NCWS, “As mothers, we know it is a huge responsibility for a young girl to become a wife and mother. Because these girls are not adequately prepared for these roles, this heavy burden has a serious impact on their psychological welfare, their perceptions of themselves and also their relationship.
“Also, they are more likely to suffer abuse and violence, with inevitable psychological as well as physical consequences. Violent behaviour can take the form of physical harm, psychological attacks, threatening behaviour and forced sexual acts, including rape; and girls that enter families as brides often become domestic and sex slaves.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100503218678