Film about Family Care International's work in Africa.

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Giving birth is a leading cause of death in many countries. Every minute of every day a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth. If giving birth is life affirming for so many, why does it have to be life threatening for so many others? Family Care International advocates for political commitment and investment in high quality health care so that all women receive the care they need and all newborns begin life with a good chance to live.

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Family Care International (FCI), a New York-based non-governmental organization (NGO) that works to make pregnancy and childbirth safer in developing countries, has won the 2008 United Nations Population Award in the Institutional Category. The Award is given each year to individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in population and in improving the health and welfare of individuals. In accepting the award, FCI's President Ann Starrs said "2008 will be the year that the fifth Millennium Development Goal, improve maternal health, begins to receive the attention it so urgently needs."

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World Health Day 2009 focuses on the importance of safe health facilities, underscoring the importance of these institutions during times of disasters.

This PSA was produced by the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

For more information on activities in the region:

http://www.wpro.who.int/sites/ whd/

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UNICEF has released a two minute video, "Missing Mothers" as a tool for international development professionals to use in raising awareness of the issue of maternal mortality.

"This year alone, more than 500,000 women will die during pregnancy or childbirth. Thats one woman missing every minute of every day. We call these women missing because their deaths could have been avoided. In fact, 80 per cent of maternal deaths could be averted if women had access to essential maternal health services.

We know where and how these women are dying, and we have the resources to prevent these deaths. Yet, maternal mortality is still one of the most neglected problems internationally."

To bring attention to the needless deaths of women around the world, deaths that could have and should have been avoided, UNICEF is offering international development professionals innovative communication tools at the following website:

http://www.unicef.org/devpro/4 6000_48066.html

Please also visit www.unicef.org/devpro our new website for international development professionals.

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Join the Million Mums campaign today and help us say to world leaders that "Mums Matter!" http://www.millionmums.org




Imagine kissing your family goodbye each time you went into labour fearing you might never see them again? Having a baby should be a time for celebration yet in some countries the lifetime risk for a woman of dying in childbirth is as high as 1 in 7.

One women a minute dies in pregnancy and childbirth - and nearly all of these deaths are preventable. The Million Mums campaign aims to unite a million voices, and raise a million pounds for the work of the White Ribbon Alliance, to raise awareness for the women dying needlessly in childbirth. Please go to http://www.millionmums.org and add your voice today.

We know how to fix this problem: the key is making sure every woman has a trained health worker to help her and persuading governments to make this a priority. We need your help to make this a reality. Please pass the message on - ask your friends to join million mums and help us say to the world that 'mums matter'.

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