International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Oct. 18, 2010 — The world celebrated the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty yesterday, October 17. This date was chosen to bring attention to the numerous barriers that impede people from pulling themselves out of poverty.

Those who live below the poverty line are faced with employment obstacles such as lack of education, training opportunities and social protection. Women, additionally, face the challenges and risks associated with motherhood.

Being pregnant, in many countries, is a high risk venture. Early childbirth prevents women and girls from completing their education. Lack of information about and access to family planning reduces women’s ability to maintain stable employment. And, the inaccessibility to life saving resources causes the death of 1,000 women every day around the world.

Until these obstacles for women are addressed, eradication of poverty will be impossible. In order to ensure safe motherhood, in 1999, CEDPA helped form the White Ribbon Alliance in India (WRAI) and continues to serve as the organization’s secretariat.

In India, one woman dies in childbirth every seven minutes. The good news is that the majority of these deaths can be prevented through simple, inexpensive methods. The alliance works to reduce maternal mortality by providing advocacy, information and training about how implementing these methods can save lives.

Aparajita Gogoi receives the Humanitarian Award from Sarah Brown.

Because of the WRAI’s efforts, in 2003 the government of India declared April 11 as National Safe Motherhood Day. In addition, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare collaborated with the alliance to develop a cadre of skilled birth attendants and promoted the use of skilled birth attendants throughout the country. The alliance also developed a set of guidelines and protocols for maternal and child health that the Ministry incorporated into their essential package of maternal and child health services.

The organization’s work has yielded recognition by international nonprofit organizations and the Indian government. Most recently, the executive director of CEDPA India and the national coordinator for WRAI, Aparajita Gogoi received the White Ribbon Alliance’s Humanitarian Award at the Women: Inspiration and Enterprise Symposium.

Former British First Lady Sarah Brown, global patron of the alliance, presented Aparajita with the award applauding her advocacy efforts and the wide range of people she engages ensuring the reduction of maternal mortalities.

Maternal mortality is a clear indicator of the status of women in a country. Because women constitute 70 percent of the world’s poor, until the specific challenges they face are overcome, poverty will continue.

Read here about CEDPA’s continued work in India.

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