Women Deliver A Brighter Future

The 3^rd Annual Global Women Deliver Conference just took place in Kuala Lumper, Malaysia with approximately 3,000 people in attendance. Powerhouse women like Chelsea Clinton (read Chelsea's Huffington Post blog), Melinda Gates, and Barbara Bush were featured speakers at the conference that discusses women and girl's health with a major focus on eliminating the astounding number of maternal deaths in developing countries. This conference has gained a lot of momentum since the inaugural meeting in London in 2007, making a stop in 2010 in Washington D.C. before making it to Malaysia this year, a country where women's empowerment has been a large part of the national conversation. 

The strategy discussed at the meeting is simple and cost effective: Women Deliver will strive to provide access to family planning, including counseling, services, and supplies. They will implement safe environments to treat mothers and newborns during pregnancy by supplying skilled doctors at the site of birth as well as provide immediate postnatal care for mothers and newborns. Additionally, Women Deliver will work to provide access to safe abortion clinics, as nearly 20 million unsafe abortions take place every year.  With this plan, the organization aims to lower the 287,000 pregnancy-related deaths that occur each year.

In order to fulfill their expectations, Women Deliver is looking to invest $12 billion a year for a total of $24 billion by 2015. With this money they believe they will reduce unintended pregnancies by 66%, prevent 70% of maternal deaths, avert 44% of newborn deaths, and reduce unsafe abortions by 73%. But money is not the only thing that will save the lives of these women and their newborn children as they put pressure on governments to strengthen healthcare by adding 1.1 million professionals and create more reproductive healthcare programs catered to inform and mentor young women around the world.

This is a phenomenal movement with huge potential to help millions of women, get involved by reading more about Women Deliver and the Women Deliver Conference. Let's all make sure that the health and rights of girls and women remain top global priorities now and for decades to come!