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The Crisis Continues in the Central African Republic
Lead photo: The National Forum of Bangui during the report on ‘Justice and Reconciliation’ in the capital of the Central African Republic on 9 May 2015. The history of the Central African Republic (CAR) has been riddled with conflict since it was first established in 1960, but the past few years have been particularly upsetting.…
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Maternal Health Heroes: Interview With H.E. Toyin Saraki
We are excited to launch our Maternal Health Heroes Summer Series with an interview with H.E. Mrs. Toyin Saraki, founder of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa. Throughout the summer we will speak with some of the most notable maternal health advocates in the world ahead of the Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference that will be held…
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Featured Video: Giving Birth in America
There seems to now be a true movement underway to bring to light the high maternal mortality rate in the United States and the true state of giving birth in America especially for poor women and women of color. Every Mother Counts, a non-profit organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother and that funds…
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Multibillion-Dollar Fund Launches to Prevent Global Maternal, Newborn, and Child Deaths
This week at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a new multibillion-dollar global fund was launched. Called the Global Financing Facility, the fund will pump international, domestic, public, and private financing into high-burden, low-income countries that desperately need the funds to save more of its mothers, newborns, and children. The Global Financing Facility will…
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Register: Free Online Course Examines Women, Child, and Adolescent Health #FLImprovingHealth
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is launching a free online course about women, child, and adolescent health. The course called Improving the Health of Women, Children and Adolescents: from Evidence to Action will last for six weeks starting on Monday, September 28, 2015. Registrations are now open. While the course is primarily targeted to…
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Maternal Mortality Will Rise Due to Ebola-Caused Health Worker Deaths
In January I wrote that I would be looking closely at the effect of Ebola on maternal health and mortality in the Ebola-affected countries – Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Today unfortunate news was released by the World Bank and The Lancet. According to the new report, Health-care worker mortality and the legacy of the…
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Addressing Food Deserts In The Land of Plenty
Guest Post by Brian Kennell, Tetra Pak president and CEO for the U.S. and Canada From just-squeezed juices to artisan sandwiches to colorful bunches of fresh-picked vegetables, nutritious dietary offerings have never been so bountiful or convenient for affluent Americans. They can legitimately browse for gourmet-quality dinners inside local supermarkets as well as convenience stores…
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The Surprising Cause of Stunting in Tanzania
In the developed world most people have no idea what stunting is. It is a health problem we do not have to worry about because access to nutritious and fortified foods is largely available in our supermarkets and restaurants and ultimately our kitchens. For us, the stark opposite of stunting for our children is our major…
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International Day Against Sexual Violence in Conflict
Rape has always been used as a weapon of war and women and girls are typically the victims of these heinous crimes. To bring more awareness to sexual violence during conflict the United Nations General Assembly created the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict that will be commemorated on June 19…
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Women Entrepreneurs Find Support From Global Drink Company #5By20
Guest Post by Tisha Berg of Biz Mommy “The Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” — Lau Tzu, Chinese Philosopher That inspirational quote has never rang more true than when considering the journey of thousands of successful women entrepreneurs around the world who started out with little more than a desire to…
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Join Shanti Uganda’s 2015 Doula Training, “Birthing and Beyond”
By our partner, The Shanti Uganda Society On August 27th to September 4th, The Shanti Uganda Society will be hosting its fourth annual doula training in Uganda, East Africa, the country considered to be the Pearl of Africa. The program has been running since 2012 and has received much positive feedback. A previous student described her…
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Women Helping Women in Johannesburg’s Townships
I met Jabulile Tlhabane, 57, in a small woman-owned restaurant on a busy road in Alexandra Township, located about 60 minutes outside Johannesburg. Alexandra, or Alex as the locals call it, is home to over a million people, even though its intended resident capacity is capped at 100,000. That means stresses are rife among Alexandra’s…
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Video: Maternal Health Care After Nepal’s Earthquakes
If there is one thing we’ve seen over the past month or so after the earthquakes in Nepal in April and May is there is an overall concerted effort to help women who are expecting babies during the aftermath of the natural disaster.
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Photojournalist Exposes Sex Trafficking in the United States
Written by Stacy Gammill, Communications Manager & Chief Writer, Mom Bloggers Club NetworkIt is every parent’s worst fear—their child lured away from their family by promises of fun, adventure and independence then unwittingly caught in the thick web of child sex trafficking and prostitution. But most parents rest easy believing that kind of thing only…
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New Global Grant Improves Obstetric Surgical Safety in Western Kenya
Earlier this week we wrote that Duke University researchers discovered that spinal anesthesia (epidurals) can be given to women during C-sections in low-resource settings in Ghana. Now, there is even more good news regarding women in Africa who are in need of emergency C-sections during high-risk deliveries. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Kenya’s AIC Kijabe Hospital,…
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Featured Video: #EndMaternalMortality
Merck for Mothers is a 10-year, $500 million global initiative that applies Merck’s scientific and business expertise to help reduce maternal mortality worldwide. So far, with our partners, they have helped an estimated 3.5 million women around the world including the United States. We agree, no woman should die giving life. Watch their #EndMaternalMortality video. Photo:…
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Researchers Confirm Labor Pain Anesthesia Can be Administered in Low-Resource Settings
At most hospitals in low-resource settings it is very unlikely that women would receive pain medication during labor. This is a problem, however, when women must receive emergency C-sections. While some administer general (inhaled) anesthesia, the spinal anesthesia poses more risks when there is no adequate training. However, doctors and researchers have shown that spinal anesthesia can be…
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Featured Video: Periods Change Lives
Once girls get their period in low- and middle-income countries where resources are low, their lives change — sometimes irreparably. When girls get their periods they oftentimes have to drop out of school and work around their home instead. And on top of that, many cannot afford sanitary napkins. Irise International, an East African organization,…
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Featured Video: African Women Musicians Join ONE for Strong Girl Anthem
Today ONE launched its Strong Girl anthem to empower girls worldwide and as a follow-up to its recent Poverty is Sexist report. Strong Girl features vocalists Waje (Nigeria), Victoria Kimani (Kenya), Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania), Arielle T (Gabon), Gabriela (Mozambique), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Selmor Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe), Judith Sephuma (South Africa), new talent Blessing Nwafor (South Africa) and the…
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Can Creative Innovators Drive Global Health and Humanitarian Change?
I am currently in a very small North Carolina town known for a few things: its infamous ballroom that was converted into a world class event space from an old, historic cotton mill, its Gastropub, its craft beer as well as its pristine location on the Haw River about twenty minutes from Chapel Hill. I’m…