Cecilia Addah, midwife in Ghana
“It’s a joy to bring a child into the world” says Cecilia Addah, a midwife from Ghana. She’s right. Oxfam’s latest photo exhibition, Birth Rights, tells the birth story of 2 women in Ghana, Selina and Adumporka. The joy and beauty new life brings is self evident in their photos – which you can see for yourself, any time of day, at our pop-up exhibition in the windows of 15 Cheap St until April 20th!
Selina and Adumporka are lucky. They knew about and were able to access free healthcare. It is a sad fact that every week, around 75 women in Ghana die because of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The vast majority of these deaths are completely preventable. Women die because there aren’t enough qualified health workers; health facilities are often far from women’s homes; pregnant women don’t know they can get free care. Factors which can be overcome by investment in the healthcare system.
But surely that’s Ghana’s problem? It’s true – the Ghanaian government needs to invest more in it’s healthcare services. But it’s not quite as simple as that. How can countries invest if they don’t have the resources & support to do so? Ghana has a GNI per capita of $1230. In the UK it is £38370. Over 30 times as much. The position they are starting from, trying to improve from, with their healthcare system, highlights the disparity that exists and the challenges they face.
The UK government needs to fulfil its commitment to spend 0.7% of national
income on overseas aid. This offers a real chance for more women to receive life-saving health care during pregnancy. The best kind of aid is long-term and predictable, and contributes directly to government budgets so that developing countries like Ghana can use it to pay for health workers, medicines and hospitals. At this critical moment, politicians of all parties need to know how important keeping the aid promise is. Click here to add your voice in letting the politicians know – Aid Matters!
Birth Rights Exhibition - 15 Cheap St, Bath
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be blogging about Selina and Adumporka – follow OxfamBath to hear more of their story – and remember to visit the exhibition on your way through central Bath!
I’m so glad this popped up on my news feed, i’ll be keeping an eye on this blog from now on. A very sad fact though, but i’m glad Oxfam are raising awareness again. I’m pleased to have found the blog. Being a Bath resident it’s nice to keep up with local developments, and even better coming from a charity long held in high esteem by my family.
I’m impressed by the bra display in Oxfam Argyle Street, it’s eye catching and clever.
Looking forward to participating with events, still wondering whether to volunteer with one of the shops. Is there much need for help from a young college drop-out?
Hi Grace! Glad you like the blog
We’re always grateful for help from more people!! We meet on the second Weds of every month (7.30pm in Central Bar – this Weds!) to talk about what we can do and extra help is valued. We’ve got several events coming up, from stalls to promote Birth Rights (handing out action cards) to something relating to Bra’s…..the Bra display you mentioned links to a great new campaign encouraging people to donate old bras which CAN be re-used: check it out here http://bit.ly/I2hp0f! We’ll be doing something on this in Bath for sure 
If you want to get involved with any of these things, feel free to join the mailing list http://eepurl.com/iC3NL, our facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/oxfambath), or keep an eye on the blog!!
Thanks for reading….
Awesome, I may pop along to one of the meetings. I don’t suppose you’ll be going to the Bath People’s Assembly event on the 28th? I’m looking forward to seeing a Bath activist presence, and see what I can do
Thanks, i’ll join up with the facebook group and the mailing list.
We’ll definitely be at the Bath People’s Assembly event!! See you there