RCOG Release: Imaging Mother And Child Worldwide

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 28 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PST

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The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) will host an evening lecture by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Nancy Durrell McKenna on 4 September. The event is organised by the Royal Photographic Society and is part of their International Awards.

Ms McKenna was awarded the Combined Royal Colleges Medal in 2007. This Medal was established 50 years ago by the Royal Photographic Society in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians of London, The Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. It is awarded annually for an outstanding contribution to photography and/or its application in the service of medicine and surgery.

Professor Ralph Jacobson, Chairman of The Royal Photographic Society Awards Committee said "Her work brings great credit to all those involved in the award and visually articulates at the highest level the problems of women's health in the developing world".

Titled Images for Life, Ms McKenna will discuss her work as a photographer documenting pregnancy and birth in developing countries. Her images have been used as a powerful medium to convey the plight of women living in countries where access to basic obstetric care is poor, often leading to unnecessary morbidity and death. Her photojournalism has covered maternal mortality in countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Thailand.

Ms McKenna said "Having worked on the themes of women's sexuality, birth and reproductive health through photography for the past twenty-five years, it is a great honour to have this work recognised by the Royal Colleges.

"It is the power of the image to 'tell a story' and advocate for change that is the driving force behind the photographs I take. One woman dies every minute, somewhere in the world, due to the complications of pregnancy and childbirth. This is a tragedy and one that is preventable.

"If my photographs highlight the need to invest more in women's health - especially in developing countries - then I am using my creativity to the best of my ability."

Dr Anthony Falconer, Vice President of the RCOG International Office said "Here in the West, we live in an affluent society and sometimes the very thought of maternal suffering in other countries is abstract.

"In the UK there is a comprehensive pathway of care to support a woman during her pregnancy, birth and in the postnatal period. In some countries however, women do not have access to the services which we take for granted.

"These photographs are poignant, rousing emotions which words fail to convey. They are beautiful and remind us of the symbolic imagery of mother and child which has a long tradition dating back to primitive times."

Notes

Images for Life will take places at the RCOG on Thursday 4 September 2008. To view a location map with directions to the RCOG, please click here.

Entry is free of charge and to book your place, please contact Jo Macdonald, Awards Manager Royal Photographic Society on jo@rps.org or call: +44 (0) 1225 325721.

The programme for the evening is:
18.30 - Drinks reception
19.30 - Lecture by Nancy Durrell McKenna followed by questions
21.00 - Close

Royal Photographic Society International Awards
For more information about the RPS awards, please visit http://www.rps.org/annual-awards

RCOG International Office
The RCOG International Office was established in November 2006 and currently has projects in India, Kenya, Kurdistan, Nigeria, Philippines, Somaliland, Sri Lanka and Yemen.

The aims and objectives of the RCOG IO are:

- to draw on the expertise and experience of the RCOG and its global network to make an effective contribution to improving sexual and reproductive healthcare worldwide. In particular to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity by increasing awareness of maternal health at global, regional and national levels to politicians, professionals and the public

- to focus on capacity development through training, exchange programmes, provision of guidelines and setting standards that are relevant to the local situation. For example, the delivery of our Life Saving Skills Manual and Course with a focus on emergency obstetric care for use by midwives, clinical officers, medical assistants and doctors working in resource-poor settings

- to work with governments and international organisations at policy level to get long term "buy-in" to improving quality of care and education including regular monitoring and evaluation

- to develop and apply new knowledge gathered through research, which meets local needs and directly informs policy

- to work in partnership with other UK and international agencies

For more information about RCOG international initiatives, please click here.

About Nancy Durrell McKenna and SafeHands for Mothers

Nancy Durrell McKenna founded the charity SafeHands for Mothers in 2003, dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality globally, and with a grant from the Band Aid Trust produced a training film, The Big Push, aimed at improving skills and awareness in antenatal and postnatal care.

For more information about SafeHands for Mothers, please visit http://www.safehands.org

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists