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Pomp and colour marked the launch of the Stand Up for African Mothers campaign during a fundraising gala on 2 March 2, 2012 in Nairobi. Dignitaries from government, the diplomatic corp and corporates attended the event in support of African mothers and children.
AMREF’s Director General Teguest Guerma highlighted the plight of the African mothers who die during child birth. “They die because they are not informed or educated about the need to look for antenatal care during pregnancy and to deliver in the hospitals with skilled assistance, so they deliver at home.” Describing the three elements of the Stand up for African Mothers campaign, Dr Guerma said that the first is training of 15,000 midwives by 2015 in order to contribute to the reduction of maternal deaths by 25 per cent. One midwife can look after 500 mothers every year, and safely deliver 100 babies. The second part is supporting the symbolic nomination of Esther Madudu, a midwife from Uganda, for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize in honour of all African midwives for the important role they play in saving the lives of mothers and their children. She encouraged all to log onto www.standupforafricanmothers.com and sign the petition for Esther’s nomination. The third element is that Africans themselves must begin by putting something on the table, even before asking others to help. “We want every African to give at least one dollar towards the campaign,” she emphasised.
AMREF is a transparent organisation distributing funds of up to $85 million per year.
