Today, August 18th, marks the 500-day countdown to the target deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — eight goals established by the United Nations and governments around the world to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems.
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) will join more than 30 organizations from the international development community for MDG 500 — a 500-minute digital movement to raise awareness about and rally for continued momentum to achieve MDG success.
EGPAF will host a Twitter chat today from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (EDT). The chat will bring together a diverse group of experts and advocates across all facets of maternal and global health. We will explore how efficient and integrated health systems can sustainably improve maternal health services and have lasting, positive affects on the overall health of women, children, families and communities.
To participate, connect with @EGPAF and join the conversation via #MDGMomentum and #MDG5. Have a specific question of your own? Ask us in advance and we’ll do our best to address it on Monday!
MDG5: Why is Maternal Health Important?
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FACT: A woman living with HIV is six to eight times more likely to die during pregnancy and early postpartum than an HIV-negative mother. Last year, alone, there were more than 7,000 HIV-related maternal deaths. Together, we can and must change this.
EGPAF is the leader in HIV prevention, care, and treatment services for families worldwide. A global champion for women, children, and families we seek to:
- Empower and Educate: support informed decisions and fulfillment of rights, ensuring access to a range of contraceptive options
- Prevent and Treat: help HIV-negative mom and moms-to-be remain negative and keep HIV-positive moms healthy and their babies HIV-free
- Strengthen and Integrate: improve health systems and train health workers to ensure comprehensive health care services that serve moms, kids, and families
We can’t achieve an AIDS-free generation unless we ramp up momentum and improve maternal health around the globe. We need to keep mothers healthy to ensure children, families, and communities are healthy.
EGPAF will do whatever it takes until we end HIV/AIDS — and keep it eliminated.
Learn more about MDG 5: Improve Maternal Health
View our Storify of Monday's #MDGMomentum Twitter Chat
The MDGs are part of a global strategy to ease and eliminate extreme poverty by focusing on the needs of women and girls; eliminating HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis; investing in health and sanitation efforts; and supporting the push to eradicate childhood diseases that kill millions each year.