A focus on maternal and child health
The facts on maternal health
The facts on under-5 deaths
The reason to act now
Progress is possible
How Women empowering Women will help
The Affinity Partner commitment
World Vision's commitment
Read related stories
A focus on maternal and child health
In developing countries around the world, there are women who don't have either the means or the knowledge to ensure that their own - and their children’s - basic human rights to health, education and nutrition are met.
In Australia, there passionate and socially-minded women who, by coming together, could do much to help.
We know that when women are empowered, the benefits extend to their families and their communities.
As we approach the Millennium Development Goals target date of 2015, World Vision is asking Australian women to join a global movement that is determined to see the targets for MDGs 4 and 5 met. These next few years are critical.
Women empowering Women is a call to all women who share our sense of injustice over the millions of preventable deaths. It is a call to all women who are committed to making a difference. It is a call to uphold the rights of women and children everywhere.
The facts on maternal health
- 99% of maternal deaths occur in the developing world.
- In the least developed nations, only 28% of women have a skilled attendant present during childbirth.
- The most common cause of death is obstetric hemorrhage.
- Many women who survive a difficult birth suffer debilitating injuries such as obstetric fistula, urinary incontinence and depression.
The facts on under-5 deaths
A third of child deaths are related to malnutrition.
- The leading causes of childhood deaths, outside of newborn deaths, are pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and measles – all of which are preventable and treatable.
- 37% of under-five deaths occur within the first month of life.
- A child born in a developing country is more than 13 times more likely to die within the first five years of life than a child born in an industrialised country.
- Child mortality is higher among boys and girls living in rural areas and in the poorest households.
The reason to act now
Ten years ago the international community pledged to halve extreme poverty by 2015. Endorsed by world leaders, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) provide a framework for these promises. Two of the eight goals relate specifically to improving the health of mothers and children:
MDG 4: Reduce by two-thirds the under-five child mortality rate between 1990 and 2015.
MDG 5: Reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality rate between 1990 and 2015.
Based on current trends, neither of these goals will be achieved.
In the lead-up to 2015, it is vital that we speak up for the rights of vulnerable mothers and children. It is time for these MDGs to be given greater priority.
Progress is possible
Where governments have shown high level political leadership on child health, results often follow. Even in some of the poorest countries in the world, some progress has been made over the last several years.
- In 2006, annual deaths of children under five dropped below 10 million, for the first time. Nearly 61% of women who gave birth did so with the help of a midwife or doctor, compared to 55% in 2004.
- In Ethiopia, a drive to make insecticide-treated mosquito nets available to every household has, since 2005, underpinned a 61% reduction in malaria cases.
- Despite being one of the poorest countries in Africa, Malawi has almost halved child mortality in less than 20 years through a combination of measures including increasing the number of attended births, boosting immunisation coverage and investment in better nutrition. This was possible partly because a single national health plan attracted substantial donor backing.
This progress should spur us into taking more action.
How Women empowering Women will help
Women empowering Women will focus on supporting the following 7 maternal and child health projects in 2010*.
- Bobonaro Child Health – East Timor
- Centro Labarik Nian – East Timor
- Atsbi Nutrition – Ethiopia
- Kochore Safe Motherhood Program – Ethiopia
- Maternal and Child Health – Laos
- Cahora-Bassa Community Health Project – Mozambique
- Enhanced Staff and Community Capacity in Nutrition – Tanzania
*Please note, some projects will change from year to year as project life cycles conclude.
Affinity Partners
World Vision Affinity Partners are proactive members of the community; passionate about maternal and child health; willing to network with like-minded women and men to make a real difference.
They are dedicated to getting behind this cause and to upholding the rights of women and children everywhere.
Through events, workshops and opportunities to dialogue with maternal and child health specialists and Ambassadors, Affinity Partners will become well versed in the issues. They will then be able to use their knowledge and skills to engage their networks and inspire others to take action.
We are asking our Affinity Partners to:
- make a one-year commitment to the program
- raise $50,000 for World Vision maternal and child health projects in 2010 (you may like to host a dinner for10 like-minded friends who can each contribute $5,000 each)
- sign an agreement authorising you to fundraise for World Vision
- In 2010, we will support seven World Vision maternal and child health related projects in various countries with the aim of raising $1.5 million.
We believe there is much to gain by making a commitment of at least two years to this program. However, we also realise that this may place a significant demand on your time and energy. Therefore, we are only seeking a one-year commitment from Affinity Partners.
To honour outstanding efforts, Affinity Partners who raise $50,000 over the course of a year will be invited to visit one of the projects funded by the program to see firsthand both the challenges and the inspiring work being done in some of the poorest countries in the world. This life-changing experience is one we hope will move you to continue to your journey with World Vision.
World Vision’s commitment
World Vision is committed to fully supporting Affinity Partners in their fundraising efforts. We will provide:
- an invitation to an Affinity Partner event where you can deepen your knowledge of the issues and meet like-minded people, our Ambassadors, World Vision Chief Executive Tim Costello and World Vision maternal and child health specialists
- an invitation to an Affinity Partner workshop where you can learn more about the fundraising process and delve more deeply into maternal and child health issues
- a resource kit that includes comprehensive material to support your fundraising efforts
- an end of year program report that you can make available to those who have supported you
- an end-of-year event that celebrates your efforts and successes.