Jennie Joseph

NATIONAL SUMMIT TO ADDRESS RISE IN U.S. MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE

Between two and three women die every day during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States. On April 9th, the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Birth Summit 2011 will bring experts from multiple disciplines, including physicians, researchers, universities, midwives, childbirth professionals, and advocacy groups to examine the rising maternal mortality rate in the US.

Setting aside all cultural, personal, and professional bias, this group of professionals and lay people will tackle an almost silent epidemic in the United States. The results from this working day will be a formal white paper recommendation that will be distributed widely across the country and YouTube documentaries of the day's events. The all day summit will take place at Shenandoah University's Dulles campus on April 9th, 2011.

It was the ninth festival since Tribeca was founded by Robert De Niro and his friends, in an attempt to revitalise downtown Manhattan after the attacks on the World Trade Center.

By Sebastian Doggart (originally published in The Telegraph)

Tribeca has become a major fixture on the calendar of world cinema. And after attending a whirlwind of screenings, round-tables and parties, I can confirm that this year both the Union Jack and the Irish tricolour were flying proudly across its screens.

The comedian and rising British star Omid Djalili was premiering two films. "On the plane home," he told me once he was back in England, "I was sitting next to Andy Serkis [the human behind Gollum and King Kong] whose performance as Ian Dury in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll had earned him plaudits. Andy and I joked that we were like the British Olympic team flyinghome with medals round our necks."

I will be a panelist at the briefing and plan to highlight the dire straights women are finding themselves in due to lack of access to quality maternity care, along with the benefits of the midwifery model of care. Please see attached PDF for more information. Thanks!

Jennie

Dear friends,

Greetings! I am writing to invite you to our Congressional briefing on the right to maternal health on May 6th  from 12-2 in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2226. We are pleased that Representatives John Conyers, Lois Capps and Gwen Moore are planning to be in attendance.

As you know, the United States spends more than any other country on health care, yet ranks 41st in the world when it comes to a woman's risk of dying from complications of pregnancy or childbirth. African American women are nearly four times as likely to die, and other communities of color are also disproportionately affected by barriers to maternal health.

Model Christy Turlington has released this powerful film about the sad state of maternal mortality and its effects. The Birth Place is featured as part of the American side of the story and we are thankful for the visionary work of people like Christy who are bringing the plight of pregnant women, worldwide, to the forefront. Thanks too for your support for what we are doing at The Birth Place.

Jennie will be the screening on the 28th April. View event details.

Dear Friends,

We are pleased to announce the world premiere of Christy Turlington Burns' documentary film NO WOMAN, NO CRY at the Tribeca Film Festival this April 2010. Please find the details below, as well as more information on the film. We hope to see you at one of the screenings.

Thanks again for all of your support.

All the best,
Christy, Dallas, and Clancy

Read about No Woman, No Cry on Tribeca Film

USA urged to confront shocking maternal mortality rate

Amnesty International today called on US President Barack Obama to tackle soaring rates of maternal mortality and pregnancy-related complications that particularly affect minorities and those living in poverty 2010-03-12

"This seminal report outlines the dire straights we find ourselves in as far as US maternity care, better than anything else that I have read thus far. I was able to work as a consultant with this team and although I was aware of the substance of the report I am totally blindsided now that I have seen the final version. I welcome your feedback... Thank you".

Jennie Joseph

• Summary of the report "Deadly Delivery"
• Full version of the report "Deadly Delivery"

USA: Amnesty International Calls on President Obama to Establish Office of Maternal Health