Maternal Mortality

There are various things horribly wrong in blaming Mbale health workers for the much-publicised maternal death of Cecilia Nambooze.

Hamilton’s Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese was invited to speak at a venerable institution.

An open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper about maternal mortality.

In Uganda, communities and individuals are stepping forward like never before as champions for maternal care.

Her name is Fatmata. She is an African mother. And this is her story.

KAMPALA, UGANDA ✦A pregnant woman here in Uganda’s capital was recently beheaded by her husband. Maurine Ampire, 38, was a mother getting close to delivering number six. It’s one picture of life here, and a comparable image to the lack of voice that pregnant women have worldwide. No voice. No choice. Just death, and often violently.

Good grief. Just when you thought you knew the rules around here, where it's a given that cultural change is painfully slow, along comes a curve ball that really makes your head spin.

Following up on some recent commentaries fearing abortion is going to be legalised in Uganda, maybe the only thing left to say is that it's not happening.

So, the Rwanda government is pushing the concept of a three-child limit for families. It's something for Ugandans to keep an eye on, because population growth rates of the two neighbouring countries, among the highest in the world, are virtually identical.

Women and children, in New Orleans or the Third World, often suffer the most in disasters.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Most of us will likely say thanks to your mom in some fashion. Good thing. A mother's job is not easy.

Childbirth is killing poor mothers at the rate of 1,600 a day.

You don't need to be a flaming, bleeding-heart liberal or a limp- wristed lefty to see that it's a man's world when it comes to some basic privileges in life.

Sunday is Mother's Day, and I'm reminded that I've never held my mother, looked into her eyes and told her that I love her. I've never offered a soft kiss on her cheek. I've never even given my mother flowers. My mom died before I got the chance.

Folks who lined up to throw pies at the prime minister for his candid suggestion that 9/11 was linked with growing global disparities and Western greed may want to stop reading this. The rest of you may meet my wife, Jean, a woman I thank God for every day.