CSI February 2017 Digest: Mothers are the Backbone of Humanity

CSI February 2017 Digest

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Childbirth Survival International

February 2017 Digest

Reaching the Unreached with Health Services & Information

Message from Childbirth Survival International CEO

Dear CSI Friends, Partners, and Donors:

Mothers are the backbone of humanity, a fundamental understanding that constantly shapes and drives CSI's work in underserved rural and urban communities. Our teams of midwives, nurses, leaders and community volunteers in collaboration with local and international partners are addressing the health disparities and the major gaps in limited-to-no basic health services that contribute to preventable maternal deaths and disabilities.

It is critical that mothers of the world be healthy, educated, informed, and empowered. Mothers anywhere should not be denied access to quality, respectful, and equitable health services and in Africa with the highest disproportions of preventable maternal mortality in the world, the commitment was renewed for nine countries -- The Government of Malawi and eight other countries from Africa and South East Asia have committed to halve maternal, newborn and stillbirths by 2030. CSI is currently working in two of the nine countries -- Tanzania and Uganda, reaching the unreached with basic health services and information. To improve quality of maternal-newborn care in health facilities, CSI's Midwifery Professional Development program in Tanzania purposefully incorporates the White Ribbon Alliance Respectful Maternity Care Charter advancing holistic safe motherhood in health facilities.

If saving the life of one mother will guarantee the health and well-being of her child(ren) and family, then that one life saved is a milestone achieved for her family, community and society. Collectively we can attain the ultimate goal of halving or significantly reducing preventable maternal-newborn deaths and disabilities by 2030. Please consider making a small donation of $7 and support CSI's goal to help 1,000 pregnant women in Tanzania and Uganda. Thank you for your generosity and for being part of the forward-motion movement.

Kind regards,
Tausi Suedi, MPH
Mother of Three

Highlights from #CSITanzania

For three years, CSI Tanzania has worked closely with Doris Mollel Foundation, supporting the Foundation's efforts to advocate for premature babies across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar by engaging leaders and educating communities. Stella Mpanda, CSI Tanzania Country Director handed over donations to help families who are unable to afford basic needs such as socks, hats, and diapers for preemies. Click here to read Swahili news.

Highlights from #CSIUganda

CSI plays a critical role in bridging and narrowing gaps in basic health services for women in underserved communities. For instance, routine female reproductive health services such as pap smears, which can detect early signs of cervical cancer are uncommon in many developing countries and today, more women are dying from cervical cancer compared to HIV/AIDS. World Cancer Day 2017, CSI Uganda returned to Kajjansi Health Center III and provided free cervical cancer screening among other reproductive health services.

In Other News

CSI CEO, Tausi Suedi had the honor to meet former President of Malawi, Dr. Joyce Banda. Inspired by her career and life-long dedication to advance opportunities for women and girls in Malawi, it was a wonderful opportunity for both women leaders to have a conversation to explore mutual areas for concerted efforts to increase access to opportunities for all women and girls in Africa to be healthy, educated, and empowered.

To Donate & Support CSI Programs

Make a secure donation online via PayPal to Childbirth Survival International. **There is a fee to use this service reducing net donation.**

Write a check payable to: Childbirth Survival International
Mail to: Childbirth Survival International
P.O. Box 32154, Baltimore, MD 21282

Access to quality basic healthcare services is a universal human right; it is our moral obligation to reach the unreached with health services and information. ~ Mpanda & Suedi, April 2013.

www.childbirthsurvivalinternational.org