Engaging Faith-Based Organizations in the Response to Maternal Mortality

The Woodrow Wilson Center’s Global Health Initiative in coordination with the Maternal Health Task Force and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) invite you to a discussion of:

Engaging Faith-Based Organizations in the Response to Maternal Mortality
Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington DC
5th Floor Conference Room
Please RSVP to globalhealth@wilsoncenter.org with your name and affiliation.

featuring
Nabeela Ali, Chief of Party, PAIMAN
Jamila Al Sharie, Community Mobilizer, Pathfinder International
Elidon Bardhi, Bangladesh Country Director, ADRA
Mallam Kabir Adbullahi, Team Leader, NUHRHI
Katherine Marshall, Executive Director, World Faiths Development Dialogue

Faith-based organizations (FBOs) are often at the frontline of healthcare in developing countries and have networks in the most remote regions. Their close links to communities provide them with an opportunity to promote behavior change and address other cultural factors contributing to maternal mortality rates such as early marriage and family planning. Working in collaboration with FBOs and other stakeholders is critical to promoting demand for maternal and reproductive health services; however, limited knowledge about faith-based maternal healthcare exists.

The discussion will highlight successes and challenges in the field and will highlight the lessons and knowledge gaps identified during a Wilson Center workshop in Washington DC with 30 experts from the faith-based and maternal health communities.