Donna Shalala: Invest Smart, Invest in Moms

May 11, 2010

"On Mother's Day, we look for ways to thank our Mom. We buy cards and gifts in honor of everything she's given us -- the love, comfort, security and health. This year, we urge you to consider giving something more -- a gift that could help save the life of a mother or child - and help make a difference in the world in which we live.

Investing in women and families globally is one of the best ways to secure a safe and healthy world for all. Progress is being made, but hundreds of thousands of women are still dying each year due to complications developed during pregnancy and childbirth. Millions more suffer debilitating illnesses and lifelong disabilities...

...Through our collective work at UNICEF and the Commission on Smart Global Health Policy, we know that global investments and the efforts of organizations around the world are working, but more needs to be done. We also know that this crucial issue cuts across gender, politics and areas of expertise. Celebrating women by ensuring they survive chilbirth matters to everyone: men and women, public and private sector, Democrats and Republicans, the US and the rest of the world." (Read more at Huffingtonpost.com).