I talk a lot about the amazing progress the world has made in child health, especially that we have dramatically reduced the number of childhood deaths each year from 12 million to 8 million in the past 20 years alone. A lot of that progress has come about because we as a world simply decided that the death of these children was unacceptable. We knew we had the proper tools, but it took our voices to raise the issue and the collective will to do something about it. Last week, with the release of a seminal publication on the topic, an equally important challenge stands before us -- stillbirths -- and it's again time to break our silence and our complacency.
Stillbirth, the death of a baby in utero during the third trimester or during childbirth, is a devastating occurrence for families. The numbers are striking -- 2.6 million stillbirths occur each year, and nearly half happen after the woman has gone into labor. Equally devastating for mothers is that oftentimes they must suffer through this tragedy alone, facing blame, isolation, and pressure to become pregnant again soon.
The landmark Lancet Stillbirth Series, released last week, features the incredible work of many foundation partners and does a remarkable job of bringing attention to the many layers of this complex issue.
But it also provides reason for hope. Besides the new analysis of the problem, the series highlights the fact that we can make a great deal of progress with existing solutions. We can effectively address stillbirths simply by strengthening our maternal, newborn and child health efforts -- the solutions for both turn out to be remarkably similar. When we focus on health initiatives that benefit both mothers and newborns, we prevent millions of stillbirths as well.
This month, groups will gather around the world from London to Geneva, South Africa to New York to launch the series. Supporters include the numerous individuals and organizations that were involved in the series, but also many more highly committed and active parent groups.
I encourage you to add your voice to this movement. For only when we give voice to the voiceless will we see true progress and equity in our world.
Follow Melinda Gates on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gatesfoundation
And the culture is terrible. The men have babies before they’re married to prove their virility, dozens of kids in marriage and girlfriends with babies on the side to prove their proweress to their friends. I’ll just site Zuma, the President of South Africa as an example.
So if the Gates were really doing their job they’d be spending just as much money on changing the culture.
Disease, pestilence and famine is nature’s way of controlling the population for long-term survival of all. It keeps one species under control so it doesn’t kill all the rest and then obviously itself.
There is an issue now in the press about using animals for medical research. On NPR they interviewed a woman asking if she would sacrifice a rat to save her child. She replied that she would sacrifice her neighbor.
Con't next post...
South Africa is full of people determined to get an education,leave poverty behind and join the middle class.
If people have education, justice, and hope for prosperity, they are more willing to limit the size of their own families. Maybe that's what you go on to say in the second part of your post...
Stress is a huge factor in human health. With endemic economic injustice, things are only going to get worse.
It's like comparing a slum in America with a slum in a 3rd world country....there is no comparison.
My utmost respect to Ms. Gates and her organization for all that they do to prevent this horrible trauma worldwide.
She does have two healthy teenagers now.
No warnings of issues, nothing.
They have 2 healthy kids now, but are still mourning the first one.
It's incredibly tragic, to see the healthy baby heartbeat throughout labor, even feel kicks on the way to delivery, and have the baby die.
I couldn't imagine....makes me cry thinking about it.
Good for Mrs. Gates. These mothers need all the support that they can possibly get.
The irony is that on this same site when I asked when does life begin the answer that stuck out was "when the child passed through the birth canal."
It made me think. Life must start when the mother wants the child. For some at conception - for others that do not want it - ever.
How sad for these babies.
For the record I am pro-choice in the largest sense. Pro life for the innocent.
Yes, I speak from painful experience.