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MILLION
MOMS CAMPAIGN LINKS US MOMS TO MOMS INTERNATIONAL
NYC - September 19, 2011 - ABC News
and the UN Foundation launched an initiative engaging millions of Americans to
support millions of moms across the globe around the critical issues of
pregnancy, childbirth and children's health — moms here helping moms
worldwide.
The Million Moms Challenge will be featured on weekly segments on ABC News’ broadcasts including "Good Morning America," "World News with Diane Sawyer," "Nightline," and "20/20," as well as other ABC News platforms including ABCNews.com and ABC News Radio. The initiative will lead up to a one-hour prime time special on maternal health anchored by Diane Sawyer on December 16, 2011.
"There is so much we can
do together — so many simple ways for us all to link arms to make sure every
mother and child has a chance to lead a healthy life," said ABC News
anchor Diane Sawyer.
Using the latest in social media strategies together with world-class broadcast
and digital news platforms, this initiative will build a vibrant community that
connects moms everywhere around things all mothers care about: the right
nutrition to support their pregnancies, trained midwives to assist in safe
deliveries of newborns, and vaccines that allow children to survive to
celebrate their first birthdays and beyond.
Through broadcast stories focusing on personal stories and innovative solutions
from around the world, the Million Moms Challenge will raise awareness about
the extraordinary challenges faced by mothers and babies in the developing
world:
- Every 90 seconds a woman dies during pregnancy or
childbirth, yet we have the knowledge to prevent 90% of all maternal
deaths.
- More than 50 million women give birth without a skilled
birth attendant every year.
- Up to 1.5 million newborns die within the first 24
hours of life, and an additional 1 million babies are stillborn, almost
all of whom could be saved with better care at birth. Every 20
seconds, a child dies of a vaccine-preventable disease.
As part of the initiative a dedicated website (www.millionmomschallenge.com)
will provide a live, interactive forum for some of the nation’s top mom
bloggers to share their stories and ideas through blogs and video posts in real
time with moms and midwives in the developing world. Viewers who want to know
more and get involved will find ways large and small to make a meaningful
impact through simple, inexpensive interventions that make a real difference
for mothers and children around the world.
The Million Moms Challenge is asking a million Americans to join the movement
by signing up on the Challenge’s website or on Facebook.
"You don’t have to be a mom to help a mom," said Kathy Calvin, CEO of
the UN Foundation. "A healthier tomorrow for our world starts with healthy
moms and babies today. The Million Moms Challenge gives us the chance to make
history by sharing stories, ideas and sparking a global conversation that will
help the United Nations build a global partnership for healthy lives," she
added.
The Million Moms Challenge is a joint effort of ABC News and the UN Foundation,
in conjunction with corporate partners Johnson & Johnson and Baby Center, a
member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies. BabyCenter will
encourage its 25 million moms in the United States and overseas to join the
Million Moms Challenge. In recognition of the first 100,000 people who
sign on to the Million Moms Challenge, Johnson & Johnson will
donate $100,000 to several of the biggest NGOs helping moms and babies
throughout the world.
The Million Moms Challenge partners include some of the world’s most respected
NGOs, including African Medical and Research Foundation, CARE, Global Alliance
for Improved Nutrition, GAVI Alliance, mothers2mothers, ONE, Partners in
Health, Riders for Health, Save the Children, UN Foundation’s Shot@Life™
campaign, US Fund for UNICEF, White Ribbon Alliance, and WorldVision.
The Million Moms Challenge is part of the year-long global health series
"Be the Change: Save a Life," which is sponsored in part by the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation.
For more information about the Million Moms Challenge visit
www.millionmomschallenge.com. To get involved in the conversation about healthy
moms and babies around the world, follow @AMillionMoms
on Twitter and use the hashtag #AMillionMoms. You can also like Million
Moms on Facebook at facebook.com/millionmomschallenge.