Today is the launch of Save the Children’s latest campaign to end newborn deaths worldwide. For a mum or dad, the first day of a child’s life should be a time of excitement, wonder and hope. But childbirth is often complicated and a newborn child is frighteningly vulnerable. 2.9 million babies die in their first month every year. Newborn deaths now account for nearly half of all under-five deaths.
The death of one baby is a tragedy. The death of 2.9 million a year is an outrage. And most of these deaths are preventable, with the help of a trained and equipped midwife along with basic medicines such as antiseptics and antibiotics, vital equipment and a clean environment to work in.
The world has made amazing progress in saving children’s lives over the past two decades. Thanks to global action on vaccines, family planning and treatment of childhood illness, the number of children who die each year has dropped from 12.6 million in 1990 to 6.6 million in 2012. With the #firstday campaign Save the Children aim to save the lives of 2 million newborn babies a year and ensure that every baby is born with the support of a trained and equipped midwife.
Colin Crowley/Save the Children “Baby Zakaria, a newborn in Gardo General Hospital, Puntland.”
Please, if you can, spare one minute for women who give birth without access to antiseptic, antibiotics, sterile instruments or a trained medical professional.
Do something wonderful…
Sign the petition to ask David Cameron to put a global plan into action in 2014 that will ensure every baby is born with the life-saving help of a trained and equipped midwife and use his influence to get world leaders to do the same. Sign the petition here.
OR
Text COFFEE to 70090 to donate £3 (the price of a cup of coffee) and you could save 10 newborn lives by purchasing 10 tubes of antiseptic cream. You can also donate online here.
If you are on Twitter then join the #firstday twitter chat with @savechildrenuk and @thinlyspread from 1 – 2pm on Tuesday 25th February 2014 to launch the new campaign. Talk about the favourite first days you and loved ones have had and find out what a baby’s #firstday is like in remote health clinics in Nigeria.
With a small amount of time today you really can make a big difference to women and babies across the planet.
You are amazing.
xxx
I was watching something about this on the news this morning and was quite shocked. It’s great that awareness is being raised.
Mummy of Two recently posted…Bugaboo High Performance Footmuff Review
Such an incredibly important campaign xx
Sonya Cisco recently posted…First Day – #FirstDay
I have signed, this is so long overdue.
Thank you
off to sign now xx
leoniiamber recently posted…Coventry Transport museum
Thank you
Done and I will try and join the Twitter chat later too, thanks for raising awareness on this.
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…Top hat, moustache, onesie, wind, rain and a birthday
It would be great to get lots of people engaging on twitter any time between 1pm-2pm today. Use the hashtag #firstday and let’s raise awareness as this campaign has genuinely achievable aims x
I managed to get onto Twitter to join in for the last 10 minutes. Very emotional!
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…Top hat, moustache, onesie, wind, rain and a birthday
Such a hard thing to read about. I’ve donated. Thanks for taking the time to raise awareness of this important issue x
Emily recently posted…Easy and delicious chocolate fudge cake pops (recipe)
Well done for highlighting this. Will sign x
What a great cause to support.
Kizzy recently posted…Watch out teenager about!
Such a worthwhile project, have signed the petition, thanks for bringing it to our attention!
worthy blog post.
Angela Spicer recently posted…How To Make A Blackboard
There are so many peri-natal deaths that are potentially avoidable with simple precautions and care. This is a much needed initiative to get that happening.
VaiChin recently posted…Sunday 23/02/2014
What a deserving and essential charity to support. No child should be born without a fair chance of life x
Vicky ( recently posted…A visit to Avon Tyrell in the New Forest: what’s the story? + The Best Wheelchair in the World
Some sad stats there; I had no clue.
Mummy Glitzer recently posted…Manners
It’s just unfathomable how this is happening, now. Have signed and donated, yet it still doesn’t seem enough :/
My husband just became a grandad (a week ago) and having seen how incompetent the NHS were in sorting a severe tongue tie so the poor babe could actually FEED (apparently tube feeds and readmission are preferable to cutting the tie quickly and painlessly >:( ) this really resonates with me. Obviously babies in this country have a much better start in life, but NHS bureaucracy STILL reduces those chances significantly for many.
TwinsplusTwo recently posted…“Taking in the Washing” – my thoughts on Blogging
I love the fact that a simple text can change so many lives for the better x
Actually Mummy… recently posted…Ask GG: 5 tips for keeping your bedroom tidy
It is such an important cause, and could help so many people. I think it is wonderful that you posted this post and are doing everything you can to help.
Orli D recently posted…DLA – filling the disability forms
A really important campaign – thanks for highlighting it. I went to a conference on this theme a few years ago, and remember feeling shell-shocked afterwards. Have signed the petition.
I’ve signed 🙂
Shell Louise recently posted…Shower room – Before and After
It has been inspiring reading all this Kirsty.The Twitter chat really brought tears to my eyes and it was great to get involved as a blogger.
Aly recently posted…#Firstday- What Did Your Midwife Do That Made Sure Your Baby Had A Second Day?
Form signed and tweeted for you to promote 🙂 x
When you see it written like that – the price of a cup of coffee can save 10 babies lives it’s a complete no brainer – have nobble that image to add to my blog – thanks Kirtsy x
Mammasaurus recently posted…Letting go of the PND Guilt
so important and something that’s so easy to forgot, will donate too x
Fritha Strickland recently posted…What we wore – white brogues and yellow knit
This is such a great campaign, many of the midwives I work with have been to other countries to help train midwives but sadly there just is not enough equipment, resources, medicine etc. We donated an incubator to a hospital in Africa, and when the team got there they realised there was nowhere to plug it in. Lifesaving medical equipment costing thousands, and they ended up using it as a cot. So tragic and I wish we could all do more
Charlotte recently posted…Bookham Commons, Surrey {Let’s have an adventure}
Have signed. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for the twitter chat. I hope it went well x
I have signed xx
Kara recently posted…The Big Holiday Debate
Great campaign.
I’ve sign petition already, thank you for sharing with us
I hadn’t seen this so well done for pointing this out! I’ll certainly be signing the petition as it’s such a tragedy xx
Lori recently posted…GET YOUR CRAFT ON // DIY BATH BOMBE CRAFT KIT
I have signed the petition. I can’t imagine what it must be like to give birth in such terrible conditions. I know that if I hadn’t had the medical help when my baby was born, things could have been very different. I will make sure to raise awareness x
Emily Greentree recently posted…Is it coz I’m cool?
It’s so scary how easy it is for things to go wrong with something as natural as childbirth. I have signed the petition.
Rollercoaster Mum recently posted…We love Florentine and Pig
i’ve been seeing this everywhere, and i’m glad, because every (or at the very least, as many as possible) babies need to be bought into the world safely, and awareness of things like this needs to be spread.
laura redburn recently posted…friday florals 037
Thank you for raising awareness about this. Will share on twitter and on FB too. Instead of buying a coffee today I donated x
Ive been reading about this campaign and so glad to see it getting great coverage and awareness being raised x
HPMcQ recently posted…a day on the southbank
Unfortunately I missed the Twitter chat as I was at work, but read some posts on this topic later that day. As a mother I find it difficult to think about these poor mothers losing their babies when in many cases they could be saved through simple intervention.
Kate Davis recently posted…15 ideas for old diaries and journals
This is such a great campaign, I saw and took part in the twitter party but hadn’t heard about it until then. I was very lucky in that both my children haven’t needed much additional support, however I was so ill with the birth of my first that the midwives looked after him so I could recover, still very much appreciated!
Kate Williams recently posted…St Patricks Day Card