Celine Dion lends support to White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood
Posted on June 14, 2010
Filed Under East meets West | 1 Comment
Internationally acclaimed Canadian singer Celine Dion lends her support to White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood appeal to G8 leaders
International superstar Celine Dion has added her name to the list of celebrities and VIPs making public their appeal to world leaders to save the lives of women lost in childbirth. Celine joins other well known personalities from around the world, including Dame Judi Dench, Scarlett Johansson, Angelique Kidjo, Naomi Campbell, Mena Suvari and Liya Kebede, all of whom have signed an open letter to G8 leaders that calls maternal mortality a “human rights crisis demanding immediate action.”
“We are delighted that Celine Dion supports the efforts of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, and we wish her a safe and healthy pregnancy,” said Maureen McTeer, Canadian representative of the White Ribbon Alliance (WRA). “Celine’s support adds to the momentum that is building around the world to ensure that women do not die giving life.”
As many as half a million women die each year due to preventable causes of pregnancy and birth. Millions more suffer debilitating conditions such as fistula and sterility. Every year, 3.7 million newborns die, 75 percent within seven days of birth. They, too, would almost always survive, if they and their mothers had access to basic health care taken for granted in Canada. In fact, dramatic decreases in maternal deaths have been achieved in many countries where political commitment meant targeted investments were made to strengthen health systems, increasing women’s access to skilled health workers before, during and after childbirth.
“We have great expectations for the G8 leaders in June. We look forward to new financing for maternal and newborn health that includes a focus on training and retaining the midwives, nurses, and doctors we need to save women’s lives,” said Betsy McCallon, Deputy Director of the WRA’s Global Secretariat in Washington, D.C.
The announcement comes as more than 3,000 global leaders from nearly 140 countries, including advocates, health workers, researchers, government officials, ministers of health and finance, and first ladies meet in Washington, D.C. for the Women Deliver conference dedicated to delivering solutions to save the lives of women and girls.
The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood is a global organization dedicated solely to save the lives of women and newborns that die for lack of basic healthcare. With members in 148 countries and National Alliances in 15 – Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia – WRA is advocating for investments to ensure every woman’s access to quality health care. Go to www.whiteribbonalliance.org.
Comments
One Response to “Celine Dion lends support to White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood”
Leave a Reply
This kid seems a girl