RCN welcomes new fund to tackle maternal mortality
Published: 04 June 2010
For immediate release: Friday 4th June 2010
RCN welcomes new fund to tackle maternal mortality
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today welcomed the announcement of a new £5 million fund from the department for International Development (DFID) to encourage partnerships between UK nurses and doctors and those in developing countries.
Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the RCN, said:
“It is a tragedy for any woman to die from complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and half a million per year is even more shocking. Nurses will be delighted that the government is prioritising this issue, and also that they are recognising the major contribution nursing can make when expert skills are shared. We currently have members working to reduce maternal mortality in Uganda, Mozambique, Kenya and across the developing world. This fund should help more nurses to set up partnerships and make even more of a difference to women, children and their wider communities.
“Nurses have been very active and vocal in tackling maternal mortality, both through campaigning with the White Ribbon Alliance and through working and leading on projects in the developing world. We look forward to working with the government to meet the Millenium Development Goals, and we are delighted that more nurses and doctors will be supported to establish partnerships and share their unique combination of skills.”
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Notes for Editors
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Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.