Media Invitation

Launch on SA and Global Childbirth Data

You are invited to attend the launch on childbirth data for South Africa, where you will be addressed by a team of specialists and researchers who have contributed to an international ‘Lancet Stillbirth series’ on Friday, April 15, 2011 at the Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town.

Stillbirth:  A Global Context
Each year an estimated 3 million stillbirths occur in the last trimester of pregnancy. Despite increasing attention and investment for maternal, newborn and child health, stillbirths remain invisible – not counted in Millennium Development Goals (MDG), not routinely tracked by the United Nations and so far invisible in the Global Burden of Disease. Almost all of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries, with over two-thirds in South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa.  Birth is the time of greatest risk with an estimated one million intrapartum stillbirths per year.

Dr Joy Lawn and Karen Kerber from Saving Newborn Lives/Save the Children will be talking about South African stillbirth data. Prof Sue Fawcus, Mowbray Maternity Hospital, will talk about the hospital’s data. Malika Ndlovu, the author of ‘Invisible Earthquake’ will give a personal account. There will be other specialists in the field to answer questions.

For more information contact: Julian Jacobs on 082 454 4902

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