Monday 19 September 2011

For once I don’t mind being a number......

Did you know that half of the 8 million children who die each year are in Africa, yet Africa has only 3% of the world’s doctors, nurses and midwives?

Did you know that due to the severe drought in East Africa, that there is an estimated 750,000 children that are about to die?

Doctors, nurses and midwives are vital to saving children’s lives. But there's a massive shortfall of health workers in the world’s poorest countries. As ever, the poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit.

Save the Children are aware of this and are campaigning to ensure that no children die because they can’t see a health worker. They need YOU to sign their latest petition, their target is 60,000.

They are calling on David Cameron to play his full part in solving the health worker crisis which is costing millions of children's lives. 60,000 it doesn’t sound a lot but they need it by Tuesday for when the world leaders meet at the UN in New York. Save the Children want them to commit to filling the massive shortfall in midwives, nurses and doctors in the poorest countries. So go on sign the petition, I was 41,946, and for once I don’t mind being a number!

To support this campaign two bloggers who attended the Save the Children Blogging conference on Saturday 17th September, helloitgemma and michelletwinmum are trying to get 100 bloggers linked up with a 100 word meme before Tuesday.

So this is what you need to do to help:

1. Sign the petition! Go on, if is the only thing you do it will count!
2. Join in Helloitsgemma and Michelletwinmum’s blogging challenge and link up with them your 100 words. Encourage signatures and make a dent in the 20,000 needed. Write 100 words about a great health professional you have met. Add a link to the petition and follow #Healthworkerscampaign on twitter for more info.
3. Link to a number of bloggers asking them to do the same.
4. Spread the news, Twitter, Facebook, Google plus, anything.

My 100 Words (okay its slightly more)

Just think how lucky we are in the UK?


Where we are so complacent at times that we take it for granted that we will have access to a doctor\midwife. So complacent that we feel the need to bitch about the care we get (for free), on how we had to wait an hour to see a GP or have to chase for an appointment.


Now stop and think for a minute of that mother who has walked days to try and find food for her children. Having to watch her child die because they never received any inoculations. Watching your mother, sister, aunt, friend die in childbirth as no midwife or doctor was there to help.


Yes, very lucky aren’t we!

I am going to pass this on to the following lovely bloggers, apologies if you have already been tagged with this.

Mymumdom
You're not from round here
Musings from a mum
this is me sarahmumof3
Chattybaby
Actually Mummy
Thoughts from a random woman

8 comments:

NVFP said...

We are so so lucky, we should never forget that :o)

Bo said...

Thanks Frankie. I've posted. 100 words only - tricky!

Random Woman said...

Great post as always. I've signed the petition too.x

helloitsgemma said...

brilliant post - utterly heart breaking, but utterly factual. thank you

FirstTimeMum said...

I've signed the petition and this really struck a nerve with me as I am guilty of moaning about my midwife...this is a great reminder of how lucky I am to have care on my doorstep.

Frankie Parker said...

thanks for all your comments and signing the petition.. xx

Anonymous said...

Brings us down to Earth with a bang doesn't it. I'll never moan again about having to wait an hour to see the doc - in a warm comfortable waiting room, with toys for the kids and a water dispenser and a clean toilet, and and ...
Great post.
MJM.

Anonymous said...

Spot on. Thank you so much for adding your voice to this magnificent shout!