Signature of the Declaration on Universal Access to Maternal Healthcare

174 MEPS representing the large majority of Member States and political groups signed the Declaration, showing beyond a doubt that this is an issue for Europe as a whole, regardless of political affiliation.

Signature of the Declaration on Universal Access to Maternal Healthcare by 174 MEPs is a clear sign that universal and equitable access to maternal health is a priority.

MEP Filiz Hyusmenova (BG, ALDE) tabled the Written Declaration on universal access to maternal healthcare in the European Parliament, with a view to pushing maternal healthcare up the list of political priorities for Europe; written declarations in the European Parliament are a mechanism used to launch or relaunch a debate on a particular subject.

It’s clear from this result that the debate on maternal health is relevant, active and building momentum.

174 MEPS representing the large majority of Member States and political groups signed the Declaration, showing beyond a doubt that this is an issue for Europe as a whole, regardless of political affiliation.

5 million women give birth in Europe every year. In 2013, there were an estimated 1,900 maternal deaths in Europe. 1 in 10 women don’t have access to care in the first months of pregnancy. Furthermore, changing demographics, increasingly diverse populations and active cross-border mobility mean that we don’t really have a grasp of how bad the situation actually is. Will a woman’s challenging path to motherhood remain a hidden statistic that nobody fully understands or appreciates?

The time to act for mothers of our future generations in Europe is now:
The Alliance for Maternal Health Equality is grateful to all MEPs who signed the Declaration and who are engaged in challenging the status quo in maternal health. We will continue to promote this issue as we strive to deliver a better future and more equitable access to maternal healthcare for all women, regardless of their background or socio-economic status. The Declaration was among our first steps towards achieving this, and the support of our champions has been more than crucial in moving forward.

Research and Innovation for Maternal Health

On December 8, the Alliance for Maternal Health Equality had the pleasure of attending the Together for the Next Generation – Research and Innovation for Maternal and Newborn Health, organised by the European Commission’s (EC) Directorate-General for Research & Innovation.

On December 8, the Alliance for Maternal Health Equality had the pleasure of attending the Together for the Next Generation – Research and Innovation for Maternal and Newborn Health, organised by the European Commission’s (EC) Directorate-General for Research & Innovation.

As one of the main objectives of the Alliance is highlighting the necessity for and lack of real-life data and evidence, the conference was of major importance to us, focusing on the need for more maternal, newborn and child health research. We learned a lot during a plethora of discussions surrounding this issue and we are welcoming the introduction of the Birth Day Prize by the EC: an initiative that provides incentives for delivering a novel and safe solution against maternal morbidity, mortality and stillbirths.

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The Conference also featured an exhibition called ‘Birth Day’ by Belgian photographer Lieve Blancquaert

In a Europe of states with varying standards of life and economic situations, maternal health, just like in the rest of the world, is a particular problem in the low and middle income settings. The continent was mentioned several times, including by Dr. Priya Agrawal (MSD for Mothers, a founding partner of the Alliance for Maternal Health Equality) who brought to the attention of the public some striking statistics around maternal health in Europe1 and highlighted the importance of research and innovation as a way to improve the current status quo. Of course, while making the world safer for all mothers is the broader topic everyone was focusing on, the issue in Europe seems to be around accessing the healthcare system and being properly informed and aware of your rights and responsibilities.

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The focus of the conference was the role research and innovation have as a way to improve the situation around maternal and newborn health in light of the Sustainable Development Goals

In between the sessions, the Alliance also got the chance to exchange information with numerous stakeholders working in the field of maternal health, many of whom focused on the global South as a region. Our discussions together proved that cooperation is not just desirable but completely achievable – after all, the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals and their enshrined focus on improving maternal health are universal – no country should be left out, no continent should be forgotten. The lack of statistics from areas traditionally considered as more affluent (such as Europe) was also mentioned by Ms Nkandu Luo, Minister of Gender of Zambia, who remarked during her role as moderator for the second panel that we may be ignoring a lot of women from these regions simply due to missing real numbers.

Data matters for improving the situation for all mothers, there is no doubt about it. It is no surprise that the conference was opened by Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, referring to the words of Countess Lucy Bawdwin, a major proponent of maternal health and rights, who compared childbirth to the experiences of soldiers in the trenches: each moment can be your last and you have nothing else to do but look danger in the face. Proper real-life data on maternal health must be regarded as having the same value as military intelligence at war: without it, you cannot advance and you have little chance at winning the battle for improving the lives of mothers.

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1 If you are interested to learn more, check out the Alliance for Maternal Health Equality Infographic on maternal health statistics in Europe: http://www.maternalhealthalliance.eu/policy_action

Delivering on Maternal Health: not just words but actions

We, at the Alliance for Maternal Health Equality, are often overwhelmed by the support and inspiration that our stakeholders are providing us with.

We, at the Alliance for Maternal Health Equality, are often overwhelmed by the support and inspiration that our stakeholders are providing us with. Our MEP Champions are even more helpful and accommodating, the living proof that big institutions don’t need to be impenetrable, cold fortresses.

In this blog, we chose to focus on MEP Filiz Hyusmenova (ALDE, Bulgaria). From the very first conversation we had with MEP Hyusmenova’s cabinet, we were met with open arms and one very clear message: ‘equity in maternal health is important.’

MEP Hyusmenova’s involvement in this topic is the proof that maternal health spills over into many other policies. In her work as a member of the LIBE Committee (covering justice and home affairs in the EU), she is often discussing topics such as cross-border mobility and social equality, inevitably touching on the issue of motherhood.

However, maternal health, while being mentioned together with other topics, is rarely discussed on its own, despite its importance for creating truly resilient healthcare systems in Europe:

‘Healthy mothers are the foundation for a better society! However, they are rarely discussed separately but mostly as a side topic, as part of a bigger agenda. This means watering down the issues concerning maternal health. In the EU, mothers are often the first to face problems when it comes to equitable access to health – imagine living abroad and having to visit a doctor who does not speak your language, or having to deal with a foreign healthcare system without knowing your patient rights and responsibilities. It is not just that, equity also relates to other problems mothers face, like maternity leave, or the possibility to develop your own entrepreneurial business shortly after giving birth. All these (and many more) problems show us that the time has come to make mothers and equitable access to healthcare a priority topic.’

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MEP Filiz Hyusmenova (ALDE, BG) is one of the Alliance’s main champions in the EP and a firm believer in equity in access to maternal healthcare

Of course, making this a priority means taking action: with this in mind, MEP Hyusmenova is spearheading the Alliance’s EP Declaration on maternal health in Europe. The text will represent our stakeholders’ viewpoints on the issue, with the hope that this may lead to a Resolution on the topic in 2016. The finalized version is expected to be ready for tabling in the EP as of January 2016.

I would like to encourage all MEPs to take this Declaration into consideration. Its main subject is equity in access to maternal healthcare but it also encompasses the importance of collecting real-life evidence at Member State level, in order to have a clear statistical basis for all future policies on the topic. Additionally, it underlines the need to keep women aware and proactive when it comes to maternal healthcare.’

The Alliance for Maternal Health Equality will continue working with its MEP Champions in the upcoming 2016. Stay tuned to track our progress on the Declaration and to find out more about our future activities!

Calling all MEPs: The wellbeing of mothers is essential for the wellbeing of Europe.

On 24 February, MEP Filiz Hyusmenova tabled a Declaration on universal access to maternal healthcare, with a particular focus on Europe where of the 5 million women who give birth every year, 1 in 10 do not have access to care in the first months of their pregnancy.

On 24 February, MEP Filiz Hyusmenova tabled a Declaration on universal access to maternal healthcare, with a particular focus on Europe where of the 5 million women who give birth every year, 1 in 10 do not have access to care in the first months of their pregnancy.

In an effort to encourage others to sign the Declaration, the following MEPs have chosen to share their thoughts and feelings on why maternal health needs to be prioritized in Europe.

• MEP Marc Tarabella (S&D, BE)

• MEP Elisabeth Morin-Chartier (EPP, FR)

• MEP Mariya Gabriel (EPP, BG)

• MEP Gabriele Zimmer (GUE, DE)

• MEP Nathalie Griesback (ALDE, FR)

• MEP Jean Lambert (Greens, UK)

• MEP Jana Zitnanska (ECR, SK)

Every signature matters, and could make the difference for a better future for mothers in Europe. Sign before 24/05/2016 to support the Declaration.

Sign the Declaration

The Life of Minorities in Bulgaria

MEP Filiz Hyusmenova, champion of the Alliance for Maternal Health Equality and at the forefront of the Declaration on universal access to maternal healthcare, organized and hosted a photographic exhibition at the European Parliament on the lives of minorities in Bulgaria.

MEP Filiz Hyusmenova, champion of the Alliance for Maternal Health Equality and at the forefront of the Declaration on universal access to maternal healthcare, organized and hosted a photographic exhibition at the European Parliament on the lives of minorities in Bulgaria.

The Alliance were present at the opening of the exhibition where European Commissioner Vera Jurova gave a welcome speech highlighting the need for a ‘spirit of tolerance,’ and the recognition of minorities’ and minority women’s rights.

Central to MEP Filiz Hyusmenova’s address was the importance of embracing the beautiful, colorful and diverse world we live in. The situation in Europe is worrying. With an increase in terrorism there is often an increase in hatred and xenophobia. The images in the exhibition celebrate our sensitivity to diversity and in parallel the importance of tolerance and togetherness.

The exhibition is made up of the works of photographer Ognyan Panov showing pictures from the daily lives of women from different minorities including Roma, Turkish and Armenian minorities. The exhibition is dedicated to the contributions of Abraham H. Foxman Honorary Chariman of the Anti-Defamation League who dedicated his life to fighting for a world without hate.

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