With 9 million people assisted each year, Amref Flying Doctors is Africa’s leading public health NGO. The organization manages more than 160 programs in about 30 African countries, in the most remote areas and with a focus on women and children.
To foster a sustainable change in public health, Amref partners with governments and communities and focuses its programs on training local health personnel. Headquartered in Kenya, Amref has around 20 offices in Africa, Europe and North America.
A humanitarian mission of great importance, a global awareness campaign that the Pesenti Foundation supports, firmly believing that improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable around the world is the secret for improving the lives of everyone.
The Stand Up for African Mothers project
Today in Sub-Saharan Africa, one in two women gives birth at home alone, without qualified medical assistance. Nearly 180,000 women still die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth each year. Yet, 80% of these deaths could be prevented if these women were monitored by midwives.
Faced with this situation, Amref decided to take action by launching the Stand Up for African Mothers international campaign to train 15,000 midwives to help reduce Sub-Saharan Africa maternal mortality by 25 percent. To date, 11,726 midwives and nurses have been trained in 10 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Training programs are currently implemented in some fifteen African countries where the need for midwifery training is particularly important. In partnership with local Governments and Ministries for Health, Amref sets up midwifery diploma courses combined with an employment guarantee. Depending on the needs of each country, Amref blends initial face-to-face training to continuing education (with mixed formulas combining e-learning and practical sessions).
In France and Monaco, the Stand Up for African Mothers campaign is supported by a group of Goodwill Ambassadors, female celebrities in the world of sports, cinema, music and entertainments. They are very passionate and deeply involved in acting as spokespersons, attending events focused on African health, and getting out in the field. Stand Up for African Mothers has also received the support of hundreds of French and Monegasque midwives committed to help their African colleagues through awareness-raising and collection actions.
On October 16th, at the Pavillon Cambon-Capucines in Paris, Amref Flying Doctors will honor the results of its Stand Up for African Mothers campaign and its actions to train front-line health workers.
AMREF Flying Doctors
AMREF Francia
Stand Up for African Mothers
