Midwives matter - all over the world

26 April 2001

Local midwives from Bury St Edmunds are campaigning for safe motherhood with colleagues in 90 countries throughout the world on the International Day of the Midwife - Saturday 5 May 2001.

Staff from the Maternity Unit at the West Suffolk Hospital will be raising money to reduce the number of mothers dying in childbirth.  They aim to make a real difference to the safety of mothers and children in poor and developing countries.  They will be organising a cake stall and display in the foyer of the hospital at 2pm on Saturday 5 May in aid of the International Day of the Midwife.

Midwives can provide the right sort of care so that women and their families - suffering from poverty, homelessness, or who are caught up in wars – have the best chance of a positive experience of childbirth.  Midwives also give families the information and help they need to ensure that their new baby has the best opportunity to be healthy.

Global figures for maternal mortality are in excess of 600,000 each year – a figure that almost matches the total number of UK births.  A large proportion of these deaths could be prevented.

Where midwives are used appropriately in developing countries the maternal mortality rate is being reduced.  Previous funds have been used to provide motorbikes, mountain bikes and all-terrain vehicles to give midwives in Cambodia, Uganda and Sierra Leone access to pregnant women in isolated rural areas.

Anyone who wants to donate money (or cakes!) should telephone the Maternity Unit on 01284  713219.