HER ROYAL HIGHNESS CROWN PRINCESS MARY OF DENMARK TO OPEN PHOTO EXHIBITION FEATURING THE WORK OF LOCAL MELBOURNE PHOTOGRAPHER

"Under the Radar, At the Frontline: Non-Physician Clinicians and Emergency Obstetric Care" – An interactive photo exhibit – featuring photos by Fiona Basile – created by the Averting Maternal Death and Disability Program (AMDD) based at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA.

When: Monday 7 June 2010, 10:35-10:55 a.m. (Washington, DC time), immediately following Opening Plenary

Where: International Women Deliver Conference

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center
           801 Mount Vernon Place NW
           Washington DC, USA

Melbourne photographer Fiona Basile will travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the above-mentioned exhibit launch and the international Women Deliver conference. The exhibit features photographs taken by Fiona in September 2009, when she visited Malawi to document the life-saving work of non-physician clinicians in the area of emergency obstetric care. Non-physician clinicians are professional health workers who are not doctors or midwives but are capable of performing many life-saving functions and are extremely important in areas of the world where doctors cannot be retained.

After a chance meeting with AMDD representatives in Sweden during 2008, Fiona decided that she too could help to advocate for the use of non-physician clinicians – via her photography – as these workers are making a real impact in reducing maternal mortality worldwide.

HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is opening the exhibit in acknowledgement of the Danish government’s commitment to making pregnancy and childbirth safer for all women, everywhere.

Contact: Fiona Basile - 0407 879 991     

MORE INFO ABOUT THE EXHIBIT IN WASHINGTON, DC, USA:

The exhibit will feature 16 photos (24” X 18”) documenting four non-physician clinicians in Malawi from three different hospitals (Thekerani, Thyolo and Salima). The show aims to tell the story of these NPCs and highlight their importance, dedication, and challenges as critical members of a health care team providing emergency obstetric care.

Each photo is accompanied by a caption which highlights a different aspect of the NPC’s experience. People can move through the interactive exhibition to learn about the experience and stories of these individuals, who can't be with us at the conference - as they are on the ground saving lives in Malawi. Background panels will also provide context and general information about NPCs and Malawi.