But, more importantly, these women were also creating a climate for local change-setting up schools, advocating for access to services, and preventing childhood marriage. The light went on for Courtenay five years ago when she was asked to evaluate a self-help project in Ethiopia based around groups of 15-20 women who met each week to discuss saving up for and starting small businesses. She has found, consistently, that the programs that have the greatest impact tend to align with and support local people, rather than coming in with their own external ideas. She has spent the past 20 years helping nonprofits figure out what was working-and all too often, what wasn’t working-in poverty-reduction programs overseas. A Lancet study found that participation in women’s collectives has been associated with a 37% reduction in maternal mortality and a 23% reduction in neonatal mortality.Ĭourtenay Cabot Venton came at women’s health issues from a similar perspective. And when investments in women’s health are combined with women’s empowerment, the outcomes are impressive. This approach is fundamental because it creates a culture of empowerment. In addition to raising awareness and engaging the public, the organization invests in community-based programs in countries including the United States, Guatemala, Tanzania, Uganda, Bangladesh, India and Haiti, educating frontline providers to improve access to quality and respectful maternity care.Įvery Mother Counts also seeks to support women leaders in these communities, coming alongside women to back the investments that they see as most important. Using the power of storytelling and short films-“ No Woman, No Cry” and “ Con Madre” are both worth watching-Every Mother Counts raises awareness and shares the stories of real women. Backed by research it has done, the organization is making the case for the positive influence of the midwifery model of care on healthy births. In 2010, Christy founded Every Mother Counts. She knows how fortunate she is: More than 800 women around the world die every day from complications related to childbirth or pregnancy, and most of these deaths could be prevented. Everything worked out for her, but these complications could have been fatal without timely maternity care. Their work in the fields of women’s health and empowerment is impressive-and inspiring.Ĭhristy developed her passion for maternal health causes after she suffered complications following the birth of her daughter in 2003. Two amazing women, maternal health advocate Christy Turlington Burns and international development economist Courtenay Cabot Venton, underscored the importance of enabling grassroots programs when they recently spoke at Stronger Together, a Fidelity Charitable-run forum held in Boston.
Maternal health is even a pillar of Goal 3 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” And while change can start anywhere, it is often most effective when champions are empowered to act at a community level. Addressing the health needs of women around the world-especially women in emerging markets-is crucial.
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