Dear CSI Friends, Partners, and Donors:

We wrapped up Quarter IV and fiscal year 2019 with immense optimism for more impact in 2020. Childbirth Survival International (CSI) is truly an organization that meets people where they are, works with communities through a cultural lens to understand the root causes of barriers in health access and literacy, and delivers quality low- to no-cost health services—benefiting hundreds of women, babies, children, adolescents, youth, and dozens of individuals in underserved communities. Our high-demand community-focused programs such as free cervical cancer screening; girls' health, rights, and education; and improving maternal-newborn health outcomes remain priority health areas for CSI as we transition into CSI's new fiscal year 2020.

In Quarter IV, CSI's energy and drive was empowering as we saw country teams mobilize and rally communities to build on the year's hard work and to realize we cannot fall back on gains made in maternal, newborn, child, adolescent, and youth health. In communities, where CSI works, we have established the most important collaboration principle: trust. 

CSI harnesses trust from loyal supporters, donors, partners, and community members in order to shift perspectives, improve health, and transform communities to thrive. On behalf of the CSI leadership, board, and staff, I would like to extend the organization's appreciation to donors for supporting CSI to implement programs and impact lives.

I wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year and Best Wishes in 2020. 

Sincerely,
Bhim Bahadur BK, CEO
@ChildbirthSI

Join Childbirth Survival International (CSI) leadership and staff, esteemed guests, local and international partners, and donors on Friday, April 3, 2020 at the Delta Hotels by Marriott  Baltimore North to celebrate CSI's impact in Baltimore and abroad in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2013, when CSI was founded by Stella Mpanda and Tausi Suedi, hundreds and thousands of lives—women, girls, babies, children, youth, and scores of communities in Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, and in West Baltimore have been positively impacted—made possible by local and international donors who will be recognized on April 3rd. We will have dynamic speakers, culturally diverse entertainment, dinner, drinks, raffle prizes to win, and more. Early Bird tickets are available on Eventbrite. RSVP today! 

Quality medical supplies and tools are just as important to a pregnant woman as access to a health facility with skilled health providers. In countries like Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia, where CSI works, pregnant women face multiple access barriers including purchasing of basic medical supplies such as gloves that will be used at time of delivery. In situations where pregnant women are unable to purchase medical supplies, they decide to stay at home and deliver with a medically untrained person increasing their risks of complications that lead to death or disabilities such as fistula and newborn growth challenges. To date, CSI's Save Mothers of Africa: Saving Lives at Birth program has impacted more that 500 pregnant women ensuring pregnancy, birth, and postpartum complications are managed by a trained midwife in a health facility to save life of mother and baby. In the sub-Saharan African region where at least 500 women die in pregnancy, childbirth, or immediately after giving birth every day—it's impossible for one organization to address this issue. Through partnerships and collaboration, it is possible and we thank the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) and Women's Health Activist Movement global (WHAMglobal) for the generous donation to procure childbirth kits that will make a difference for at least 300 pregnant women. Dr. Karen Wolk Feinstein, JHF and WHAMglobal President and CEO, shared, "Ending maternal mortality requires global partners and improving both local and global best practices. WHAMglobal is proud to leverage partners from across the world and support critical interventions to improve maternal and child outcomes. We’re proud to support our partner Childbirth Survival International and their work to improve the quality, access and delivery of health services in sub-Saharan Africa.” CSI will share impact and updates in future newsletters.

When we think of the discrimination, disparities, and disadvantages that adolescent girls and young women around the world face, it is disturbingly daunting and compels action. CSI's Girl Talk, Girl Power program in West Baltimore City, Maryland was adopted after seeing the successful impact in Tanzania and Uganda where it has regularly been implemented since 2014. CSI's girl-focused program breaks social and cultural barriers that limit girls to achieve their dreams and succeed. On December 18, 2019, Baltimore County Public Schools Leadership Summit for Young Women at Notre Dame of Maryland University featured Prof. Tausi Suedi as the keynote speaker to share her professional and personal experiences in the establishment of CSI and inspire girls to dream big and succeed. At least 180 high school girls across Baltimore County had the distinct opportunity to learn important strategies including academic and social pathways to benefit them beyond high school, in their careers, and in life as successful women leaders.

1. Write a check to CSI and mail to Childbirth Survival International, 400 East Pratt Street, Suite 800, Baltimore, MD 21202.

2. Shop on Amazon and Amazon will donate 0.5% to Childbirth Survival International. Remember to identify CSI as the nonprofit to support.

3. Support CSI's $7 GoFundMe campaign for childbirth kits (OB/Mama kits).

4. Network for Good accepts and processes donations for eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits including Childbirth Survival International. Make a secure tax deductible donation. 

5. From your iPhone or Android, use Cash App and conveniently send to $ChildbirthSI   (telephone number associated 202-763-2100).