24,000 More Died Today
Make Poverty History, GCAP Canada (2009)
Publisher/Organizer: GCAP Canada
Publication date: 2009
Overview
These are hard words to write. Every minute of every day, a mother dies in childbirth or pregnancy. 24,000 children under 5 years old die every day.
These are staggering figures, made all the more tragic because these women and children are dying needlessly. Simple, low-cost, tried and true interventions could prevent most of these deaths. We know that, because we take them for granted in our world. It explains why 1 mother in 7,300 dies in childbirth in the industrialized country, while 1 mother in 22 forfeits her life in Africa.
We are asking you to join us in urging our elected representatives to take action to make the world a healthier place for all mothers and their children. Canada has a unique opportunity to show leadership on this. As host of the G8/G20 next June, we can take a global initiative that will save lives and encourage other world leaders to end this terrible toll.
On behalf of a broad coalition of NGOs working with children and their mothers, we are asking you to please:
- Email your MP urging him or her to broaden Canada’s investment for the “Catalytic Initiative” with funding that will deepen support for interventions to save the lives of women and children. You can use the letter we’ve drafted or send one of your own. A copy of your letter will be forwarded to Prime Minister Harper. www.makepovertyhistory.ca/child-and-maternal-health
- Urge your MP to attend the MP Breakfast on Dec 3 sponsored by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
- Encourage your friends – especially parents - to send a letter as well
- Please post our maternal and child health logo as your profile picture on http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/sites/default/files/images/Maternal_e.jpg
Many thanks on behalf of mothers and children everywhere!
Dennis, Kelly, Jennifer, George, Eric, Bryan and Laura May
Make Poverty History Staff Team