Saving Lives This Mother’s Day

CEDPA’s President Yolonda C. Richardson invites readers to renew their commitment to making motherhood safer for all women this Mother’s Day, May 14.

Health risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth continue to claim over 500,000 mother’s lives each year, mostly in Africa and Asia. With limited access to family planning and maternal health care, and the lack of emergency obstetric care, many women in developing countries today face great risks in pregnancy.

For 30 years, CEDPA has helped raise awareness about maternal health risks and mobilize actions to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for all women. And we continue to develop new and creative approaches that make quality maternal health services accessible to more women throughout the world.

But more mobilization and advocacy efforts are needed.

President Richardson’s hope is that in the coming years, no woman will die because she did not have access to the information and services to protect her life and that of her child.

Read her commentary on how to work hand-in-hand with partners to make safe motherhood a community, and global, priority.

CEDPA works through local partnerships to give women tools to improve their lives, families and communities. CEDPA’s programs increase educational opportunities for girls, ensure access to lifesaving reproductive health and HIV/AIDS information and services, and strengthen women’s leadership in their nations. With a growing network of 5,000 alumni and partners in almost 150 countries, CEDPA is building a groundswell of change agents for effective international development. Learn more about CEDPA.