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AMDD at Women Deliver

Posted on Jun 05 2010

This week, women’s health advocates from around the world will gather at Women Deliver 2010, a global conference to be held in Washington, DC, USA from June 7-9.

AMDD will be involved in numerous events and sessions throughout the conference. Please stop by AMDD’s booth, 310, in the Exhibition Hall, where you can pick up the latest AMDD materials and view a new slideshow.

AMDD is hosting a photo exhibit, “Under the Radar, At the Frontline,” about the experiences of non-physician clinicians in Malawi, in the Conference Registration area, throughout the conference. Please join AMDD staff, including Lynn Freedman and Helen de Pinho, for the official opening of the exhibit on Monday, June 7 from 10:35-10:55 am, immediately following the Opening Plenary.  Invited Guests include Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Dr. Chisale Mhango, Director of the Reproductive Health Unit in the National Ministry of Health of Malawi.  This work is generously supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Also on Monday, June 7 from 1:30-3:00pm, Lynn Freedman will be speaking on the panel “Operationalizing Human Rights in the Context of Maternal Health” (Session 114; Moderator: Paul Hunt).

On Tuesday, June 8 from 11:00-12:30 pm, Helen de Pinho will be speaking on the panel “Human Resources for Maternal Health: What We Know, What We Don’t” (Session 204; Moderator: Luc de Bernis).

Also on Tuesday from 11:00- 12:30 pm, Samantha Lobis is speaking on the panel “Monitoring Progress on Maternal Mortality from a Human Rights Perspective” (Session 209; Moderator: Agnes N Muriungi Odhiambo).

From 3:15-4:15 pm, Lynn Freedman is moderating the panel “Strengthening Health Systems for MNCH Results: Understanding the Global Health System” (Session 232).

On Wednesday, June 9 from 11:00-12:30 pm, Lynn Freedman is moderating the panel “Expanding Emergency Obstetric Care for Obstetric and Newborn Complications” (Session 306).

We are looking forward to an exciting and productive conference, and we hope you will join us for many of these events!

Our work is urgent

  • Over 7 million pregnancy-related deaths, including maternal deaths, newborn deaths, and stillbirths happen each year. That’s 50% more than the annual deaths from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.
  • 99% of maternal deaths occur in developing countries.
  • 75% of maternal deaths can be prevented by skilled health care providers backed up by emergency obstetric care (EmOC).
  • We have until 2015 to reduce maternal deaths by 75% to meet Millennium Development Goal 5. We can’t do this without strong health systems that ensure universal access to EmOC.