HAMILTON, Ontario–(CANADIAN CHRISTIAN NEWS SERVICE)–The Board of Directors of Save the Mothers (STM) is pleased to announce that Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese, founder and executive director, has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada, one of the nation’s highest civilian awards. An investiture ceremony will be held at Rideau Hall at a later date.
Dr. Jean–as she is known to her patients in East Africa–is an internationally recognized expert in women’s reproductive health. She has volunteered in some of the world’s poorest countries to make childbirth a safer experience.
“It has been my privilege and honour to be a voice for the voiceless,” said Dr. Chamberlain Froese, “to speak for mothers and their babies in the developing world–those whose birthing experience is so vastly different and dangerous compared to Canadian mothers.”
Dr. Chamberlain Froese (49) founded Save the Mothers in 2005; it is an organization dedicated to saving some of the 287,000 women who die in childbirth every year.
“Dr. Chamberlain Froese has demonstrated unswerving commitment to mothers,” said Paul Philpott, Board Chair. “Her vision and leadership have had an immeasurable impact on the lives of women in East Africa. She is a worthy recipient of this distinguished appointment.”
“Maternal mortality is preventable. It is the most tolerated tragedy of the 21st Century,” said Dr. Chamberlain Froese. “But I have been grateful for the support of the Canadian government in recent years, and for the many global citizens who are joining their voices to help save the lives of mothers and their babies.”
“I still have much to do,” she added. “May God help us all to continue the work, until no mother or her child dies of preventable complications related to pregnancy, regardless of their geography or resources.”
Dr. Chamberlain Froese spends eight months of the year in Uganda and four months in Canada advocating for safe motherhood, while teaching and working clinically. She is an Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at McMaster University and an adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo (School of Public Health).
She has written a book, Where Have All the Mothers Gone and is co-editor of the book Women’s Health in the Majority World: Issues and Initiatives, which is soon to be released in its second edition.
Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.
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For photo of Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese, CLICK HERE.
For more information or interviews,
Contact: Patricia Paddey, Director of Communications
Website: www.savethemothers.org
Email: ppaddey@savethemothers.org
Phone: (905) 616-1326