Ending preventable stillbirths: A renewed call for collective action
High-level virtual event to raise awareness and end preventable stillbirths
Date: 21 October 2020
Time: 8-10 a.m. EDT
Thank you to those of you who joined us for this virtual event to raise awareness of the often silent but enormous trauma and burden of stillbirths and to bring clarity to this topic that’s rife with misconceptions. We have made some resources available at the bottom of this page, including a full recording of the event, PowerPoint slides and more.
Despite millions of babies being stillborn each year, this devastating tragedy has not been prioritised in national or global public health agendas. However, most of these senseless deaths could be prevented with universal access to quality care before and during childbirth. Renewed commitment to ending preventable stillbirths is urgently needed. We must do better, faster.
Moderated by Femi Oke, this event convened a panel of country representatives, midwives, bereaved parents and global experts to discuss results from the first-ever report on global stillbirth trends by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. Speakers included UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom, and the Honorable Minister of Health of Nigeria, Dr Osagie Ehanire.
Panelists also addressed the stigma and misconceptions around stillbirths and the good practices necessary to end preventable stillbirths and ensure every child has a fair chance.
The event was jointly hosted by UNICEF; WHO; the World Bank Group; United Nations Population Division; United Nations Population Fund; Ministry of Public Health, Afghanistan; Department of Health, Australia; Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal; Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria; Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the United Kingdom; Beibei Haven Foundation, Nigeria; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Australia; Every Woman Every Child; Independent Midwives Association of Namibia; International Confederation of Midwives; International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO); International Stillbirth Alliance; Jhpiego, Indonesia; Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health; Save the Children; and Still A Mum, Kenya.
The event was conducted in English, interpretation to Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish were available.
#EndStillbirths
@UNICEF @WHO @WorldBank @UNPD @UNFPA @FCDOGovUK @healthgovau @mohpnep @mophofficial @Fmohnigeria @beibeihaven @CountStillbirth @CREStillbirth @FIGOHQ @gatesfoundation @ISAStillbirth @Jhpiego @PMNCH @world_midwives @SavetheChildren @StillAMumAfrica, @UN_EWEC
