October 27, 2009
Melinda Gates on Child Mortality, Providing Health Care for Mothers and Newborns, and One Mother's Life-Changing Experience
Melinda Gates talks about the amazing progress in reducing child mortality. But, she also stresses that the first thirty days of life are still so fraught with danger, that in high-mortality countries, many parents still don’t even name their children until they survive this period.
She also introduces us to Liya Kebede, who traveled back to her home country of Ethiopia, where she witnessed a pivotal point in one mother’s life.
This chapter is an excerpt from a presentation at Sidney Harmon Hall in Washington, D.C. Bill and Melinda Gates explained why they are Impatient Optimists, and encouraged their audience to share the proof and become Impatient Optimists as well.
“LIVING PROOF: Why we are Impatient Optimists” is a story about success. Millions of lives have been saved, improved and empowered because of the investments in global health made by the United States and its partners around the world.
(Child mortality facts courtesy Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IMHE))