At the recent UN High Level Meeting on AIDS, world leaders made a critical step in the right direction with the launch of a global plan to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015 and to keep their mothers alive. Last fall, ONE members tirelessly advocated for the Global Fund during our “No Child Born with HIV” campaign, and we’re pleased that this plan will help us work towards turning that goal into reality.
Tremendous gains have been made in recent years in reducing HIV infections among children and scaling up the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, yet much work remains. In 2009, an estimated 370,000 new infections occurred among children, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. The global strategy identifies two top goals: to reduce the number of new infections among children by 90 percent and reduce the number of AIDS-related maternal deaths by 50 percent. Under the plan, resources will be channeled to 22 priority countries, where nearly all HIV-positive pregnant women live.
It’s astounding to think that mobile technology has changed the world we live in. Africa, a place where some countries have more cell phones than toilets, farmers can receive real-time market updates on their crops. That’s why I was excited to attend the launch of a new partnership last week that will harness the power of mobile technology to empower expecting and new mothers to make healthy decisions and improve the health of millions of women and children.
A mom and her baby at the Okyereko Rice Cooperative in Ghana
When we began thinking about Mother’s Day and our plans to highlight how moms across the world just want what is best for our children, former First Lady Laura Bush was the first person we thought of. Who better to help us tell the story than a daughter and a mom who has spent much of the last decade promoting the well-being of mothers and children — families — around the world?
While many moms in the Western world will be eating brunch and receiving bunches of flowers from their children on Mother’s Day, moms in the developing world will be dealing with much tougher issues — like making sure their kids survive past the age of five and getting enough food on the table.
These women didn’t choose where to be born, but because of the “lottery of birth,” women from poor and rural communities face extra burdens in life and high maternal and child mortality rates. Support these moms and watch “The Mothers Index,” a new report from Save the Children and ViewChange.org. The short documentary, which features stories from ONE’s Living Proof campaign, talks about the best and worst places to be a mother — and most importantly, how you can help.
Last night, PBS NewsHour aired a clip from “Edge of Joy,” a documentary on maternal health in Nigeria by filmmaker Dawn Shapiro. The film is one of four winners from The Economist Film Project, a partnership with the NewsHour to showcase independent documentaries from around the world.
Jon Klein of the American Academy of Pediatrics talks about an exciting new training tool to help prevent birth asphyxia in the developing world.
This past week, the American Academy of Pediatrics introduced Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) to Latin America. HBB is an educational program that has the capacity to save a million newborn lives each year by preventing birth asphyxia. Asphyxia, the inability to breathe properly, accounts for more deaths each year than AIDS and malaria combined.
Jill Sheffield, president and founder of Women Deliver, shares some exciting news on women and girls ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8.
This week, Women Deliver announced the “Women Deliver 100,” a list of the top 100 people in the world -– men and women, young and old -– who are delivering for women. When I read the stories of the individuals honored, I am overcome with inspiration and gratitude. These are some of the most intrepid and committed people in the world, who are dedicated to improving the lives of girls and women…at many costs. These are people who get that girls and women make the world go round, and that investing in them -– prioritizing them, protecting their rights, telling their stories -– pays.
Last year was truly a momentous year for girls and women, as we saw new donor commitments, new policy decisions, and an overwhelming swell in support for protecting their well being. It was beyond fabulous, but it also raised the stakes considerably. Looking ahead into 2011, we are under even more pressure to keep this momentum going.
The Women Deliver 100 is part of our effort to do so. First and foremost, it is our offering of gratitude and recognition to one hundred heroes. We will celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day next week, and it’s a time to really celebrate the leaps and bounds we’ve made, and how hard it’s been to get there. Many of the Women Deliver 100 honorees work amidst incredible adversity, without much fanfare, and often without a light at the end of the tunnel. They are committed in their efforts to improve the lives of girls and women -– whether through scientific discoveries, human rights campaigns, or the delivery of health services –- because they believe in the value of women and girls. They don’t count on recognition and they don’t count on an easy road, though they deserve it.
Right now, some of the world's biggest oil companies are fighting to keep some of their deals with foreign governments secret. Let's tell big oil we won't be bullied.
Cuts to poverty-fighting programs won't balance the budget, but they will set back progress on Canada's development priorities and risk jeopardizing existing investments.
2011 marks 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were documented. Take a closer look at the specific, achievable goals we must hit by 2015 to make this year the beginning of the end of AIDS.
