ChildFund asks for help for African mums
18/05/2010
The plight of mothers and babies in the developing world is the focus of a ChildFund New Zealand appeal running this month.
A woman living in poverty in Africa is 300 times more likely to die in childbirth than a woman in a developed country such as New Zealand, says ChildFund’s maternal health expert Dr Anne Scott.
“Each year more than half a million women worldwide die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and nearly 4 million newborns die within 28 days of birth. This does not need to happen. Millions more suffer – unnecessarily - from disability, disease, infection and injury.
“Cost effective solutions are available and could bring rapid improvements. Deaths can be prevented with clean delivery, adequate nutrition and opportunity for transport to health services when an emergency occurs,” says Dr Scott.
ChildFund New Zealand chief executive Paul Brown believes New Zealanders naturally understand the importance of improving mother and child health.
“Most New Zealanders have benefited from the strong network of support and healthcare new mothers and babies receive in this country. We know that improving maternal and child health is an achievable goal towards closing the gap between developed and developing nations.
“There are simple things that New Zealanders can do to help save the lives of mothers and babies such as funding solutions through ChildFund and becoming advocates for aid.”
For more information on ChildFund’s Mother and Baby appeal please visit the appeal page or phone 0800 223 111.
