Initiative to cut newborn mortality
More than 25,000 people specially the youth in the city put their thumbprints in last one week to support the government's commitment for producing 3,000 new midwives to reduce mortality rate of newborn children.
The sheets of the collected thumbprints will be placed at the United Nations General Assembly in September, to be attended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with other heads of states, for demonstrating the Bangladeshi people's urge for more health workers.The initiative was taken under Save the Children's 'Every One' campaign that is encouraging people around the world to use their thumbs to 'press for change' helping the developing countries in attaining the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on reducing child mortality rate.
The Save the Children has set up booths titled 'Press for change stations' to collect the people's thumbprints at shopping centres in the city including Bashundhara City, New Market, Pink City, Mascot Plaza and Metro Shopping Mall.
The collection of thumbprints started on August 22 and will end today in the city.
On the occasion, Save the Children Country Director Michael McGrath said pressing for change is a simple and fun way for people to show they care about the fate of Bangladeshi mothers and newborns.
"Though we are making good progress to meet MDG4 -- a two thirds reduction in under-five mortality," he said, adding, "If we do not reduce the number of newborn deaths further, Bangladesh won't reach its target."
Pressing for change is the unique way to show that the people of Bangladesh support its government's commitment to produce 3,000 midwives by 2015 -- an initiative that will make a real difference to the mothers and newborns of Bangladesh and help meeting MDG-4, McGrath said.
'Every one' campaign is a global initiative of Save the Children to reduce the death of children especially the newborn as more than half of all under-five deaths are due to newborn complications.
Comments