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Family Care International (FCI), A New York-Based Non Governmental Organization, Wins 2008 UN Population Award

Posted on: Wednesday, 21 May 2008, 18:00 CDT

NEW YORK, May 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Care International, a New York-based non-governmental organization (NGO) that works to make pregnancy and childbirth safer in developing countries, has won this year's United Nations Population Award in the Institutional Category. The Award is given each year to individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in population and in improving the health and welfare of individuals.

The Population Award Committee, chaired by Sweden's Ambassador Anders Liden, chose the winners from 11 individual and seven institutional nominees from around the world. FCI is only the fourth US-based organization to win this award since it was established in 1983. The awards will be presented on Thursday, 22 May, at the United Nations, New York.

FCI was established in New York in 1986 in response to new evidence showing that maternal mortality was a leading cause of death of women in their childbearing years in developing countries. Since then, FCI has been helping to make pregnancy and childbirth safer in these countries by supporting maternal health programs and policies and by promoting sexual and reproductive health for adolescents.

Working with partners through its field offices in Africa and Latin America, FCI has been involved in a wide range of activities, including capacity-building and advocacy, in addition to producing educational and informational materials that have been disseminated broadly. In October 2007, FCI organized the Women Deliver conference in London that reframed maternal health as a development issue. Attended by nearly 2,000 participants, including cabinet ministers and lawmakers from 116 countries, the event generated new global commitments to maternal health.

Ann Starrs, FCI's President, stated "FCI is thrilled to be recognized for our work to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for women around the world. It is significant that an organization that focuses on MDG 5 -- preventing maternal mortality -- was honoured this year. This award recognizes, as well, the tremendous efforts of our partners, who have been side by side with us in our on-the-ground projects in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and our 20 years of advocacy to ensure that maternal health and sexual reproductive health are placed squarely on the global agenda."

Dame Billie Antoinette Miller, a former Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados was honoured in the Individual Category.

For more information, please contact:

Elizabeth Westley, +1 (212) 941 5300 ext. 46 or +1 (917) 650 6769, ewestley@familycareintl.org;

Janayna Albino, +1 (212) 941 5300 ext. 20, jalbino@familycareintl.org;

or visit Family Care International's web site at http://www.familycareintl.org/.

Family Care International

CONTACT: Elizabeth Westley, +1-212-941-5300 ext. 46, or +1-917-650 6769,ewestley@familycareintl.org, or Janayna Albino, +1-212-941-5300 ext. 20,jalbino@familycareintl.org, both of Family Care International

Web Site: http://www.familycareintl.org/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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