Geri Halliwell joins Sarah Brown in appeal to improve childbirth conditions worldwide

Geri Halliwell, the former Spice Girl and UN Goodwill Ambassador, is joining the Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown to appeal for more investment to save millions of women from birthing injuries and disability

Geri Halliwell joined Sarah Brown to try to improve childbirth conditions Photo: GETTY

A report launched on Wednesday, entitled "Better Off Dead?", has found that women and girls worldwide were suffering devastating injuries that could mean they were abandoned by their husband and family, socially excluded and left unable to work.

Multiple pregnancies, early marriage and female genital mutilation puts women at greater risk of long-term physical, psychological, social and economic damage.

The report estimates that 10-20 million women and girls suffer injury and disability every year and many are abandoned, ostracised and alone.

But the report said that some of the worst problems, obstetric fistula, prolapsed uterus, infertility and depression were easily preventable and at a very low cost.

The UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health, along with the White Ribbon Alliance of which Mrs Brown is a patron, is asking governments around the world to improve health and family planning services so that every woman has a skilled birth attendant and emergency obstetric care.

Halliwell said: "Women are at the heart of their families, communities and countries. Their health and survival has a huge impact on the economy and the environment, and on peace and stability."

Mrs Brown said: "A mother is at the heart of every family and every community. When you save the life of a mother, so much survives with her. For if a health system can cope with mothers in pregnancy and childbirth, then it will be able to cope with so much else. A health system that works for mother will work also for early infant care, for vaccinations, for infection control, for blood transfusions, for emergency surgery for every member of the community.

"Today's report gives a host of examples that show that when people have access to health care, mothers do not die or suffer injury in childbirth. It tells the story that by building for mothers you build for everyone. The world relies on women and mothers who are well and full of energy for all that they do. That is why maternal health and this report are so important."

Christine McCafferty MP said that she had seen "young girls curled up in the fetal position, doubly incontinent and unable to walk, due to obstetric fistula", on a visit to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

She said: "It is a moral outrage that millions of women are allowed to suffer like this, in the 21st century. Political leaders must speak out to prevent further tragedy. Concerted action is needed to improve sexual and reproductive health."

Paul Hunt, human rights lawyer and former UN special rapporteur on the right to health said: "Men between the ages of 15 and 44 face no single threat to their health and lives that is comparable to maternal death and disability."