See this post in GD....Women's health key to reducing poverty

[cally]

This post is by acmejack and I think it's extremely important.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5051205&mesg_id=5051205

Tackling female health would not only save millions of lives but reduce global poverty, experts say.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says 99% of maternal deaths are preventable yet every minute a woman dies from pregnancy-related causes.

This loss impacts not only on the family and society, but also on the economy, its latest report says.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4331996.stm

[MountainLaurel]

1. Absolutely an important issue

I think I posted a thread prior to that one. I'd like to see the Dems pay more attention to these issues on an international basis, particularly in reference to the U.S. refusal to provide its share of funds for UNFPA. Maybe a picture of George Bush next to a peasant woman who hemorrhaged after an illegal abortion attempt, or a pregnant 9-year-old.

[ismnotwasm]

2. And didn't bush cut funding for organizations

That provided abortion information? (I work nights,I'm brain dead right now) One of the side effects-- cutting funding to help young women who develop rectal-vaginal fistulas from early or repeated child-bearing? I remember these young women are considered pariahs in their societies, and "unclean" because of the foul oder and constant oozing of fluid from their vaginas.
I agree healthy women, healthy children can only enpower any society. Too many third world countries (Or even certain areas in the US) Womens health is ignored. It's bizarre.

[cally]

3. Bush did cut funding for these organizations

Ironic that supposed Christian organizations push these cuts in funding. There's a story in the Bible about a bleeding woman (sounds like what you are describing)and Jesus admonishing his followers to not treat her as if she was "unclean".

[Hello_Kitty]

4. This specifically keys on the importance of access to contraception

Though obviously comprehensive healthcare is desperately needed. However, the forced birthers in this country have effectively strangled aid that we could be sending to impoverished women by disallowing effective family planning. Having baby after baby is deadly to the mothers and their children.