Minister speaks to WI members on maternal health
International Development Minister Stephen O’Brien MP yesterday attended the Women's Institute's Women Reaching Women Project Conference.
International Development Minister Stephen O’Brien MP yesterday attended the Women’s Institute’s Women Reaching Women Project Conference. He spoke to Women’s Institute (WI) members and delegates about the government’s continuing work to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and reaffirm the government’s commitments on maternal health.
He said:
“It is a disgrace that one of the most dangerous things a woman in the developing world can do today is get pregnant. That is why the Coalition Government is making maternal health one of our top priorities in our international development work.
“The British Government will make sure that women in the poorest countries are able to give birth safely with trained medical staff.
“By 2015, we pledge to support at least 2 million more safe deliveries in the world’s poorest countries and we are working hard to improve access to quality maternity services in the developing world.
“The support of organisations such as the Women’s Institute is vital in helping us to achieve the best results for mothers across the world.”
The Women Reaching Women Project Conference celebrates three years of WI members learning how communities in the UK and internationally can be engaged on the issue of gender equality and development, particularly in relation to the Millennium Development Goals. WI members had the opportunity to hear from women who lead development efforts around the world and learn more about international efforts to reduce poverty and gender inequality and promote development, and shared lessons and insights from the project on best practice in public engagement.