The Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) has launched its “Mama Africa Awards” aimed at improving maternal and newborn health and survival across the continent.
A statement issued in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday said nominations are opened to people in Africa whose efforts had one way or the other saved lives.
This maiden edition is also opened to people whose activities had ensured healthy and happy future generations.
The award, developed by the African Union Commission (AUC) in partnership with MamaYe, will hail real-life heroes and heroines from Africa, with remarkable efforts by individuals who ensured Africa’s mothers, babies and children survive and thrive into the future.
MamaYe, a campaign on maternal and child health under the auspices of the UK Department for International Development, aims to use technology to motivate and mobilise people to take direct action to respond to the maternal and newborn crisis in Ghana.
The statement said the award would focus on six categories which would show all the different ways that mothers and babies could be supported.
It said nominations could be made for persons who had found new ways to fund maternal health services or helped ensure that more women and children could access the care they needed.
Someone who has improved the quality of a health facility or encouraged communities to campaign for their mothers and babies or someone who has helped vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in conflict situations could also be nominated.
It said nominations would open shortly, and would close on February 1, 2014, with awards given at a ceremony in August/September 2014.
It said the Awards Committee of the African Union Commission would look for evidence of the commitment, dedication and achievements of the nominees before giving the award.
