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Show THE FORUM 3 - NOVEMBER 16,2011 Maternal Health Continued from Page of the women. 1 He described farther one of the issues of maternal health: lack of protection. The condom is probably the most affective form of prevention of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases. However, the condom doesnt really give any power to women, its about the male, said Kim. Katie Porter, panel member, said that increased contraceptive access would cut maternal deaths by more than two thirds. It would reduce newborn deaths by more than half. It would reduce unintended pregnancies by more than two thirds. It would reduce abortions. Porter is the Deputy Director of Government Relations at CARE. CARE is a global humanitarian organization that focuses especially on women and that, according to Porter, operates 1,200 projects in 70 countries and serves nearly 55 million people. She said One woman dies Congressman Jim Matheson visited Bangladesh with the humanitarian organization CARE and saw first-ha- Many of these solutions are simple. I mean the solutions are out there, thats whats most frustrating about this, said Kim. He said there is about a 25 chance of a mother transmitting HIV to her child, but with some nearly every 90 seconds during pregnancy and childbirth. Representative of the Second District of Utah Jim Matheson maternal health issaw first-hasues when he visited Bangladesh with CARE last spring. nd simple and proper treatment that chance can be reduced to 1. Matheson described a cold reminder of the circum- stances: the three-wheel- ed or bicycle, what villagers "Solutions are out there, it's just a lack of political will, a lack of advocacy." -- Dr. Han Kim Uere 316 also simple ways of training bkth attendants in ar- eas that may not have easy access to a hospital, he said. called a van, Public Health Professor He also said with equipped birth controls a platform very cheap and for pregnant easy, so really it women to perch on while travshould be more available. eling the nearly ten miles to the Solutions are out there, its hospital. just a lack of political will, a lack of The presenters described the advocacy, said Kim. problems, but they focused on the He said that is why this issue is solutions. relevant to students, because they need to be advocates. Globally its about reprioritizing our assistance to the developing world. These are not expensive solutions, said Kim. Representative Matheson said One thing I find when I go out in public is there is not an adequate understanding of the relative proportions of all the different aspects of the federal budget He said that people across the country believe that foreign aid is a significant part of federal spending, perhaps ten percent, when the fact ofthe matter is its a fraction of the federal budget. I think if were going to have a discussion about the relative priorities that we have as a country, the relative values that we want to engage in, it s important first of all just to be informed, he said. Porter said that foreign aid is a small drop in what is called the International Affairs Budget But, she said, the voice of nd the difficulties pregnant women constituents, the voice of voters, makes a difference, a thought that was also emphasized by Matheson. He Most people arent engaged, and I think you can leave an impact if you want to step up to the plate and talk about things. He encouraged students to expand the focus of how to advosaid, cate as much as possible. Not only can students talk to their representatives in the U.S. government, but they can also pursue advocacy of Organizations like CARE, he said. Suzanne Berman, CARE field coordinator, said, citizen advocacy and participation can be effective. She described how even in a world of global interconnectedness people are too isolated: You forget to look outside of your circle of friends. These women are bleed Non-Governm- and young children encounter. ing to death. Its something that wouldnt be tolerated here, said Berman. Kim said that if people in developed countries really want third world countries to develop and become wealthier then they have to make them healthier. He said, The health and welfare of a country will not improve until the health and welfare of the mothers and children improve. Thats just bottom line. ent Take a look at humanitarian organization CAREs website: defending dignity, fighting poverty. of 4. t "' |