Dear Friend of Save the Mothers,

Warm greetings. I hope you’ve enjoyed your summer and had some times of relaxation.

For the Save the Mothers team, it has been a busy time, a watershed moment thanks to the recent focus on global maternal health. As you know, the 2010 G8 Summit in Muskoka focused on maternal and child health in the developing world. Save the Mothers had the privilege of having a voice in this global initiative led by Canada. There were several highlights that I think will interest you.

STM in Ottawa

In Ottawa, STM was invited to a roundtable discussion with other non-governmental organizations and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Speaking personally with the Prime Minister, I had the opportunity to advise and encourage him in Canada’s initiative.

Below: Dr Jean Chamberlain Froese meets with Canadian PM Right Hon Stephen Harper.

G8 Youth Summit

Then it was my privilege to speak to the G8 Youth Summit of the G8 in Port Sydney. Some 120 youth from the G8 countries gathered with enthusiasm and thoughtfulness and provided G8 leaders with a summary of their discussions. I had several in-depth discussions with some of these young leaders

Below: Dr Jean Chamberlain Froese addresses international youth at the G8 Youth Summit in Muskoka.

STM G8 Media Coverage

STM’s work was also highlighted on CBC Newsworld, CBC Radio Sunday Edition, Rogers Cable, 100 Huntley Street and other media. Newspapers such as the Toronto Star included STM’s voice in its G8 coverage. The Hamilton Spectator also published a lengthy feature on STM and my family: how we manage life with a foot in both Canada and Uganda.

• Listen to Dr. Jean on CBC Radio Sunday Edition: STM is featured during Hour 2.
  
• Watch an interview with Dr. Jean on CBC News during the G8.
• Hamilton Spectator article: Jean's Story - Saving mothers a world away
• Toronto Star Article: What Canada needs to do at G20: deliver for moms, babies

I am always moved and impressed when I see so many Canadians concerned about maternal and child mortality. I saw this while speaking at recent gatherings that included those at Wycliffe College in Toronto, the Annual General Meeting of the Society of Obstetricians / Gynecologists of Canada in Montreal and the Christian Blind Mission in Stouffville.

Continued Support & Donations

So it has been a full summer. My team and I are thrilled at all this attention for the world’s unseen mothers and children. Funding promises have now been made from G8 countries, plus smaller countries such as the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland, plus the UN and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations.

The Muskoka Initiative and its ripple effects may, in fact, raise more than $10 billion. More detailed information can be found at http://g8.gc.ca/

But, as we know from experience, promises also need to be kept. So thank you for supporting STM’s involvement, that we would continue to have a voice.

At this time, STM continues to operate its unique African program without funding from any government, but rather through the kind donations of supporters like you. Thank you so much for considering this at this time, a donation that makes it possible for STM to continue with its effective work. We are so very reliant on your donations for our 2010-2011 budget year.

Women Deliver Conference

Seven Ugandan MPs, several who are graduates of the STM program, were among the delegates in Washington DC at the recent Women Deliver Conference. One Ugandan MP, STM’s own Hon. Sylvia Ssinabulya, gave an address at this significant event that that attracted 3,400 advocates, policymakers, development leaders and media from 146 countries.

For more information, please see www.womendeliver.org

Continued work in Uganda

I will soon return to Uganda for eight months where I will join the STM team there. That team includes Ugandan politicians. As our work now continues in Uganda you’d be interested to know that:

• Twenty-four STM graduates submitted applications for community projects they’d like to carry out. Unfortunately, at this time we can only fund a few of them. Still, we are encouraged by the amazingly strong interest among Ugandans to help their mothers.
• Laura Cranna, a registered nurse from London, Ontario who has extensive experience in Africa, is the new STM intern from now to May 2011. Welcome Laura!
• Ugandan Parliamentarian Hon. Beatrice Rwakimari, an STM graduate, has been appointed to White Ribbon International Board . The WRA has gained international attention for its voice for safe motherhood. We’re delighted that STM can partner with WRA for common goals.
• A new class of 30 STM students from a variety of backgrounds begin their training in October 2010.
• STM’s is also working toward expansion for 2011 when other East Africans will come to our Ugandan Training Centre. My team and I are working hard to get financial support from Ottawa through CIDA to make this expansion possible.

Below: Students enact a safe motherhood play at a high school in rural Uganda. This drama team was initiated by on of our STM graduates who directs the school

Sincere thanks

In the meantime, on behalf of the STM team, thank you again for your ongoing interest, your advocacy and your support. It is through you that we are able to save and improve lives of Uganda’s many needy women and children.

Please do visit our website to make a one-time donation, to join our monthly donors, to purchase a resource such as one of our books, or to simply learn more about a needy mother or child who is actually closer than you might imagine.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jean
Dr Jean Chamberlain Froese
manager@savethemothers.org or jchamber@mcmaster.ca
www.savethemothers.org