Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 - No comments

Make His Maternal Instinct the Norm

Thank you to Nick Kristof for drawing attention, once again, to the urgent need to end maternal death and life altering pregnancy related complications like obstetric fistula. See July 19th New York Times article, “His Maternal Instinct.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/opinion/19kristof.html

An estimated two million women are living with fistula in developing countries, with an additional 50,000 to 100,000 new cases occurring each year. Even more tragic is the fact that every minute a woman dies in childbirth. All most all of these deaths and injuries could be prevented.

In Kristof’s article he recounts a Pakistani saying, “If your cow dies, that is a tragedy; if your wife dies, you can always get another.” We can all agree that this statement is outrageous. But what’s worse, is the reality that that the sentiment is echoed in many countries around the world.

UNFPA’s Global Campaign to End Fistula is now working in more than 45 countries in Africa, Asia and the Arab region to prevent fistula, while also treating and rehabilitating those who endure this devastating childbirth injury. UNFPA is also leading efforts to improve access to contraception, skilled birth attendants, and emergency obstetric care to ensure that no woman dies living life.

But more support is needed to elevate the status of women globally. I encourage American readers to visit www.americansforunfpa.org/iam to get involved.

Guest Editor

Angeline Martyn

Director of Communications, Americans for UNFPA

About

Angeline Martyn is Director of Communications for Americans for UNFPA. Through public education, marketing, online advocacy, social networking and media she builds moral, political, and financial support for UNFPA within the United States. Angeline has executed worldwide media campaigns and has worked on public relations and policy initiatives in the corporate, non-profit and government sector for the last 13 years. She has extensively researched gender, leadership, and intercultural communication within a global framework. Angeline holds a Master of Science (MSc) from Oxford University’s Department of Social Policy & Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts (BA, Honors) in Communication Studies and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island.