BUILDING GLOBAL ALLIANCES FOR PERINATAL HEALTH

Howson CP, Greenup M1

1 March of Dimes, New York, USA

 

The March of Dimes is one of the largest voluntary health agencies in the U.S. with over 3 million volunteers working to advance its mission to prevent birth defects and infant mortality.  The foundation has over 60 years of experience in developing programs of research, education, community service, and advocacy towards this end.

 

The purpose of this session is to describe the activities of the March of Dimes, with the goal of fostering a dialogue among session participants that can lead to development of strategic partnerships between the March of Dimes and organizations with similar mission interests in pursuit of perinatal health worldwide.

 

The session will focus on the March of Dimes experience in identifying and implementing professional education curricula and community-based programs as a model for partnership opportunities.  The presentation will highlight two professional education products¡ªthe March of Dimes Nursing Modules and the Genetics & Your Practice electronic curriculum¡ªas examples of program materials that have proven useful and adaptable across a broad range of target populations in the U.S. and abroad.

 

The session will also describe the new Global Programs of the March of Dimes and its developing portfolio of activities in several countries of the world, including China. The objectives of Global Programs for 2001-2003 are to implement new mission alliances in at least three geographic regions of the world; promote folic acid fortification of foods in at least five countries of the Americas; promote addition of rubella vaccine to national immunization programs; and translate the Genetics & Your Practice curriculum into at least three major world languages.

 

 

 

 

 
1909