A group of mothers, midwives and other community members will march on Saturday to mark International Midwives Day and raise awareness about maternal and newborn health.
The walk is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at the Governor’s Office parking lot. Emerald Pemberton, nurse manager of the obstetrics unit of Peebles Hospital, will lead the marchers to the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park, according to a press release from the BVI Health Services Authority.
The march aims to highlight the 340,000-plus women who die annually from preventable maternal causes and millions more who suffer infection and disability. According to the release, the International Confederation of Midwives is supporting the day to promote greater access to midwifery care worldwide, especially in developing countries, where 90 percent of maternal deaths occur.
See the May 5, 2011 edition for full coverage.