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As a global citizen concerned about the high number of needless deaths of women during pregnancy and delivery, I commit to helping meet the global commitment to reaching Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5—to improve maternal health.

Substantial progress in maternal health has been made in many countries including Egypt, Honduras, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Peru and parts of Bangladesh. Yet despite the progress to date, a woman dies every minute of every day from pregnancy-related complications. That is more than 500,000 maternal deaths a year with devastating consequences for children, husbands, communities and nations.

Tragically, the vast majority of these deaths are preventable. Simple, low-cost interventions including access to skilled care during pregnancy and delivery, access to quality emergency obstetrical care, care for the mother and infant for at least six weeks after delivery and voluntary family planning, would help save the lives of many women and their babies. We know how to save the lives of women and children, but we need the widespread support and the resources to help achieve this goal.

The U.S. must lead the global community in helping to meet Millennium Development Goal 5, aimed at significantly reducing maternal and child mortality by 2015. Global health leaders have determined that an additional investment of $1.3 billion per year would save the lives of an estimated 250,000 women and babies per year. I encourage my leaders to continue to focus on increasing funding and strengthening policies that will position the U.S. as a leader in the worldwide effort to reduce maternal mortality by 75 percent by 2015.

I am committed to ensuring that more women have access to life-saving health services.

I add my name to this petition in support of raising awareness and advocating for more robust funding for maternal health programs.