BUILDING A BETTER WORLD FOR BANGLADESHI WOMEN, THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES

I am so pleased to hear the UK Government budget is planning to double Aid in Bangladesh, announced as part of its overall development programme by 2014. It means a great deal for the people in Bangladesh and the country I love, for this aid will build a better future for Bangladeshi women. Strategically targeting aid to developing countries in greatest need will build sustainable infrastructures, stability and development; both economically and socially. Whilst I appreciate it is difficult to make progressive change impact the most affected by poverty, I’m pleased the programme outlined, highlighted income generation, equipping skills and a base for women and men, reviewing and developing access to health services, hygiene and water, and addressing pollution. The plan to assist children in education and learning, improving maternal health and prevention of maternal deaths for women are all challenging and ambitious programmes for Bangladesh and the UK, however it’s encouraging that we are initiating them. The start is the notion of change, planning and sustaining these are equally valid and vital; Andrew Mitchell having sound words and the courage to do so. As with all programmes, it requires political will and change to take place for this type of global participation to take place on the scale of the problem.

IMPROVING MATERNAL HEALTH TACKLING THE GLOBAL PROBLEM FOR WOMEN

Helping Bangladeshi women in need is vital from being affected by malaria and ensuring safe births; studies from Oxfam and National Federation of Women's Institutes are all involved in ensuring the global battle for maternal health is reviewed and working together, only then will it make a difference. The vital clue is that the UK is the largest bilateral grant donor in Bangladesh.  By 2015, it will increase its aid to Bangladesh to an average of £250 million per year. This can only be good news for Bangladeshi women and children. Let’s not slip this one away from our eyes. Since the Millennium Development Goals Review Summit hosted in September last year, we must remind ourselves once again of the work to be done. 

As campaigning groups lobby to reduce maternal health related deaths globally, lobbying projects are spent adequately, providing long term support, and advice to developing countries like Bangladesh.


As we seek to secure funding for midwives and health nurses, adequate, safer pregnancy & family planning services, including safer abortion processes, we know the statistics are alarming, 1000 women die every day from pregnancy related causes. 


If anything let us gather at the Tea Time for Change, in June 2011 with our MP’s in Westminster to lobby for International Development, for our discussions on poverty, maternal health and the global challenges. Register if you can. I will meet you there, for real intervention and priority to tackle this area of work starts here, at home in the UK.