Rebirth: Ending Maternal Mortality in Africa
On May 27, 2010, the Touch Foundation hosted, Rebirth: Ending Maternal Mortality in Africa, a panel discussion on maternal health.
May 27, 2010
Spearheaded by Young Leader, Ella Merjanova, this event, featured an incredible line-up of panelists who shared their individual experiences addressing the maternal health issues in Africa. Panelists included:
Denise Grady, reporter, New York Times, an award-winning reporter who has written more than 500 stories about medicine and biology for The Times, including leading articles on women's healthcare in Tanzania.
Dallas Brennan Rexer, producer, No Woman, No Cry, a gripping documentary directed by Christy Turlington Burns that shares the powerful stories of at-risk pregnant women in four parts of the world, including a remote Maasai tribe in Tanzania.
Ann Starrs, Co-founder and president, Family Care International, a nonprofit dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safer in the developing world. Ann is a leading and widely-recognized expert on maternal health.
Following the panel discussion, guests mingled at a wine and cheese reception.
Globally, childbirth is the leading killer of young women. More than 500,000 women die each year from pregnancy or birth-related complications.
In Tanzania, fewer than 50% of women have access to a doctor, nurse or skilled medical worker. The Touch Foundation is working to address this dire shortage of healthcare workers in Tanzania.
Photo credit: Enric Catala