PASADENA, Calif. - (Business Wire) Producer, director and Oscar-winning actor, Forest Whitaker, will provide the keynote address at a symposium on maternal and infant mortality tomorrow at the California Institute of Technology from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The symposium, entitled “Women and Children First” will explore why so many mothers and young children die in Africa and will highlight innovative efforts to fight the world’s most urgent and tragic crisis. A woman in sub-Saharan Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth, compared to a 1 in 4,000 risk in a developing country – the largest difference between poor and rich countries of any health indicator.1 Additionally, sub-Saharan Africa remains the most dangerous region in the world for a baby to be born with 1.16 million babies dying each year in the first 28 days of life.2
Mr. Whitaker, who has traveled extensively throughout Africa, is a strong supporter of health causes on the continent. He traces his ancestral roots back to the Igbo tribe of eastern Nigeria. In a traditional ceremony, he was made an Igbo chief during an April 2009 trip to the region.
The symposium is being organized by the GEANCO Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit that develops world-class medical and educational facilities in Africa. The symposium will feature speakers from internationally renowned organizations committed to fighting maternal and infant mortality on the continent. The symposium will provide a rare and powerful opportunity for the general public to gain a clear understanding of Africa's greatest and most critical challenge – preserving the lives of young mothers and their children.
In addition to Mr. Whitaker, the following speakers will participate in the symposium:
- Lisa Bohmer of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation will discuss the organization’s International Family AIDS Initiatives, which seek to strengthen services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa and increase access to care, treatment and antiretroviral therapy for children and families.
- Jean Duff of the Center of Interfaith Action (CIFA) will discuss the group’s effort to engage Christian and Muslim faith leaders and networks in Nigeria to become partners for the first time in the national government’s malaria eradication programs. CIFA’s innovative partnerships were praised by President Barack Obama in his July 11 speech to Ghana’s parliament.
- Dr. Grace Aldrovandi of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles will outline her clinical research, which seeks to produce sustainable interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
- Elizabeth Butrick will discuss the development and implementation of the LifeWrap to prevent maternal bleeding and death. Butrick is project director of the Safe Motherhood Programs at the University of California at San Francisco’s Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health.
“There is no greater threat to a society than the loss of mothers and babies,” said Afam Onyema, GEANCO Foundation chief operating officer. “We want to make the public aware of this urgent and preventable crisis and to encourage as many people as possible to join the fight against maternal and infant mortality in Africa. We appreciate the support from the speakers, and we are honored that Forest Whitaker, one of our country’s most talented and respected actors, understands and embraces the importance of our efforts.”
The symposium is sponsored by 89.3 KPCC, the Gilliam Foundation, and the Caltech Y, in cooperation with Caltech Student Affairs. More information is available at http://www.geanco.org/symposia/WomenAndChildren.html.
About GEANCO Foundation
The mission of The GEANCO Foundation (www.geanco.org) is to develop and manage world-class medical, educational and athletic facilities in Nigeria. GEANCO projects will improve health conditions and learning opportunities for Nigerians and will allow for beneficial collaboration and cooperation between Americans and West Africans. Famed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe is the Foundation’s Honorary Chairman. GEANCO is currently developing a modern hospital – Augustine Memorial – in Anambra State, Nigeria.
1 UNICEF
2 2006 World Health Organization Opportunities for Africa's newborns Report
Edelman
Amy Hytowitz
P: 323-202-1028
amy.hytowitz@edelman.com
