AMREF UK

A recent UN report has reiterated the vital role that rural women play in supporting and facilitating the daily activities of the rest of the community. AMREF continues to work within communities to improve women's access to adequate health and sanitation facilities, including maternal health.

Motherhood is the essence of womanhood. AMREF's Stand Up for African Mothers campaign aims to draw attention to the plight of African mothers and to mobilize citizens worldwide to ensure that mothers get the basic medical care they need during pregnancy and childbirth.Sub-Saharan Africa is now the epicentre of maternal mortality in the world.

• 200,000 mothers die every year due to a lack of simple medical care
• 1.5 million African children are left motherless each year
• 40% of African women do not receive prenatal care, and more than half of all deliveries take place at home without medical assistance

Once trained, a single midwife can provide care for 500 women every year, including safe delivery of 100 babies.

In Kenya alone, where 7,000 women die annually during pregnancy or child birth, AMREF will train five hundred traditional birth attendants by 2015.

Overall AMREF aims to train 15,000 midwives by 2015 and reduce maternal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa by 25% in this time. This International Women's Day, support AMREF and help us bring health and happiness to women across Africa!

AMREF's Director General, Teguest Guerma, has released a statement calling for support for AMREF's Stand Up for African Mothers campaign and highlighting the importance of fighting maternal health. Read Dr Guerma's statement on International Women's Day here. Read more about AMREF's work with women and support the Stand Up for African Mothers campaign