Our work
International birth defects workshop and launch of Born Healthy
The launch of Born Healthy is a major milestone in our work to help low and middle income countries take action to prevent and care for birth defects.
Expert meeting
In June 2011 we held a workshop at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) for an international group of experts in birth defects to review our innovative health needs assessment toolkit for congenital disorders. Feedback from pilot programmes in Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina reported great success in using the toolkit to plan and stimulate action to meet health needs in local areas; a report will be issued later this year.
Born Healthy
To support uptake of the toolkit by health professionals and governments around the world, we also launched the Born Healthy international community, which provides access to the toolkit and a forum for all who support efforts to prevent needless suffering from birth defects.
The Born Healthy launch event was held in conjunction with Mothercare Group Foundation and attracted professionals from the health, pregnancy and parenting, financial and commercial sectors, including Mothercare PLC Chairman Ian Peacock, RCOG president Dr Antony Falconer, child nutrition expert Annabel Karmel and March of Dimes Vice President for Global Programs Dr Christopher Howson.
The community is now open to anyone who wishes to lend their voice to our call, as well as to those who wish to register to use the refined version of the toolkit.
The Born Healthy call
We want countries to act now to tackle birth defects and give children the healthiest possible start
