Forum on Australia's role in achieving Millennium Development Goal 5 – Improving Maternal Health

Forum on Australia's role in achieving Millennium Development Goal 5 – Improving Maternal Health

DATE: Tuesday, 13 March
TIME: 7.00 - 9.00pm
WHERE: Schools Hospitality Area, Parliament House, Canberra

This year, nearly 137,000 women have died in our Asia-Pacific region because of a lack of access to safe reproductive and maternal health services. Right across the developing world, pregnancy is the biggest killer of girls aged 15-19 years. Their deaths are preventable, and access to contraception and safe reproductive healthcare alone could reduce maternal deaths by up to 70%.

A recent study conducted by the World Health Organisation and the Guttmacher Institute has shown that despite progress in scaling up efforts for family planning, unsafe abortion is increasing and contraceptive use is stagnating.

Unmet need for contraceptive access amongst girls and younger women remains an urgent problem. When young women cannot access contraception, the effectiveness of key aid investments - especially in girls' education – is seriously undermined. Yet Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 remains the most off-track of all MDGs. Adequate attention and investment in what works must remain a priority for Australia.

We invite you to a forum on Australia's role in meeting these challenges. The forum will provide an opportunity to discuss how we can work together to save lives, using Papua New Guinea as a case study. Meet with special guests, including Dame Carol Kidu and Belinda Bowling, PNG Country Director for Marie Stopes International.

We have the power to make a difference. Please join us to learn about what you can do.

RSVP to Chris Barry, Policy and Learning Intern, Plan Australia on 03 9672 3608 or chris.barry@plan.org.au