Media Advisory - A week to save moms and their kids

This Mother's Day, aid agencies call for the end to needless deaths of mothers globally

OTTAWA, April 30 /CNW/ - In the week leading up to Mother's Day, 5,700 mothers around the world will die. During this Mother's Day week, CARE, the Canadian Association of Midwives, Plan Canada, Results, Save the Children Canada, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, UNICEF and World Vision have joined forces in Ottawa to get the attention of the government and public, to have Canada put its leadership at the upcoming G8 into action and stop preventable child and maternal deaths.

    
    THE FACTS

    -   This Mother's Day week, 5,700 mothers around the world will die
        during childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications (300,000
        annually).
    -   8.8 million children die before their fifth birthday every year-from
        mostly preventable causes.
    -   Prime Minister Harper announced on January 26 that child and maternal
        health will be the top priority at the G8 summit in June.

    THE EVENTS AND VISUALS

    -   Delivery of Mother's Day Baskets to Members of Parliament

        Tuesday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. - Outside the Centre Block Main Doors
        Members of Parliament will receive gift baskets full of real gifts
        for moms along with birthing kits, micronutrients, rehydration salts
        and other simple items that could save mothers' lives.

        Spokespeople: Actress Jessica Holmes (Air Farce), Members of
        Parliament, aid agency spokespeople

    -   Launch of Save the Children's Report, "State of the World's Mothers"

        Tuesday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. - Outside the Centre Block Main Doors
        Following basket presentations to MPs, Save the Children will release
        their "State of the World's Mothers" report which examines the many
        ways women working on the front lines of health care are helping to
        save the lives of mothers, newborns and young children at a low-cost,
        if only they were more widely available and used.

        Spokespeople: Save the Children Canada President David Morley

    -   The March for Moms family stroller walk to Parliament Hill
        Saturday, May 8 at 10:30 a.m. - Start at the Canadian War Museum
        proceeding up Wellington Street to Parliament Hill
        CARE Canada invites families in Ottawa and Gatineau to come out for
        the first ever March for Moms Stroller Walk to celebrate moms around
        the world and raise awareness about maternal health.
    

Canadians can also take action online by sending a free Mother's Day e-card at www.momsrule.org.

For further information: Tiffany Baggetta, [phone] ext. 2485, [phone] (cell), [email protected]; Sharon Marshall, [phone] ext. 2213, [phone] (cell), [email protected]