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The International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA), a non-profit coalition of organizations dedicated to understanding the causes and prevention of stillbirth. Our mission is to raise awareness of stillbirth and to promote global collaboration in the prevention of stillbirth and provision of appropriate care for parents whose baby is stillborn.
Our vision is to reduce the risk of stillbirth and to enhance bereavement care of families who experience stillbirth through public awareness initiatives, community engagement, development and promotion of best clinical practice standards and facilitating high quality collaborative research.
Please click here for our brochure
Upcoming Event:
ISA Annual Conference 2013. Hanoi, Vietnam - 16th to 18th October Please click HERE for more details. Region and International Conference on Stillbirth and Perinatal Death Prevention: It will be an exciting opportunity to
bring together researchers, clinicians, health care professionals,
bereaved families, medical students and support organizations from many
different countries to share and discuss knowledge, experiences,
research and application in reality.
International Neonatal Nurses Conference: Visit http://www.coinn2013.com/ for full program and details.
Wednesday 5th September to Saturday 8th September 2013 Belfast, Northern Ireland
SEEKING PRO BONO LEGAL COUNSEL (Posted 1/11/2012)
Are you a lawyer who has suffered the loss of a
stillborn baby, either your own child or the child of friends or loved ones? We
need your skills in the fight against stillbirth!
ISA is seeking a pro bono lawyer who is familiar
with US non-profit operations who would be willing and able to provide advice
on our fundraising and spending activities both in the US and globally. We
envision seeking your advice 2-4 times per year, on short (max 5 pages)
documents and/or providing verbal or written informal guidance. Please contact
ISA board member Susannah Leisher at shleisher@aol.com if
you are interested. Many thanks!
INTERNATIONAL STILLBIRTH MEETING
An international meeting will commence immediately following the XX
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics FIGO World
Congress in Rome. Please click below to access the final program, speakers, and registration form.
XX FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics
7 - 12 October 2012 in Rome
FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
ISA seeks Fundraising Volunteers to support our Fundraising Committee. Fundraising Volunteers have the satisfaction of knowing you are aiding the fight against stillbirth. ISA provides individual support to volunteers via our Fundraising Committee members, as well as great flexibility to enable busy individuals to contribute their time. Fundraising Volunteers are unpaid and work remotely from their homes.
Currently, Fundraising Volunteers are sought for the following tasks:
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Task
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Details
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Skills required
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Deadline
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1
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Update members list
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Review two current members spreadsheets. Incorporate all new information from official list to new list. Correct information in new list, using official list as a reference. Add missing information by searching the web.
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· Excel
· Editing
· Web research
· Attention to detail
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May 31, 2012
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2
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Improve online donations capacity
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Review website, assess capacity for online donations, identify weaknesses, recommend improvements.
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· Website editing
· Fundraising for nonprofits
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June 30, 2012
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3
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Identify top funding prospects
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Carry out internet research to find foundations that fund work like ours; summarize findings in written report.
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· Web research
· Fundraising for nonprofits
· Ability to review and summarize a lot of information succinctly
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August 30, 2012
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4
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Write text for fundraising
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Writing short sections of text for proposals and fundraising pitches to member organizations.
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· Writing and editing
· Fundraising for nonprofits
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September 30, 2012
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Volunteers must:
• Have the passion to contribute to the fight against stillbirth
• Be comfortable using English
• Be detail-oriented
• Be able to work with minimal supervision
• Be able to meet the deadline indicated
• Have any other skills indicated
• Have sufficient connectivity to be able to work from their homes
To apply:
• Send an email to shleisher@aol.com indicating which task(s) you’d like to volunteer for, why you’d like to volunteer, and how you meet the skills required. Clarify that you would be able to meet the deadline.
• Ensure email header says “ISA Fundraising Volunteer.”
• No phone calls, please.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis (there is no deadline). All applications will be acknowledged.
Please check this site regularly for an updated list of Fundraising Volunteer tasks.
Thank you for your interest in the International Stillbirth Alliance!
International Stillbirth Alliance Call for Board Nominations
Call for nominations now open!
Submission deadline August 1 2012.
ISA is seeking nominations from full member organisations for those with a passion and willingness to contribute to the work of ISA in a meaningful way to reduce the numbers of stillborn babies and improve care for families who have a stillborn baby no matter where they live. Nominations of those who have played an active role in one or more of the ISA Committees or have made a substantial contribution to the objectives is highly desirable.
This year we are specifically seeking Board’s representation and expertise in the following areas: low and middle income countries; and those with expertise in business management and fundraising.
Kindly submit nominations by completing the nominations form and submit to the ISA secretariat via info@stillbirthalliance.com. Elections will be undertaken at the General Assembly to be held in October.
News Flash
International Stillbirth Alliance Conference Bids 2013 and 2014
Call for bids now open!
Submission deadlines:
2013 Conference March 31 2012; 2014 Conference September 30 2012.
ISA welcomes bids from member organisations and partners to host the 2013 and 2014 conferences. Kindly submit a bid of approximately two pages in length maximum which includes key objectives of the proposed conference, how these align with ISA strategic direction and how the host organisation, choice of timing and city will ensure a successful conference. We look forward to hearing from you!
International Stillbirth Alliance Call for Board Nominations (Closed)
Call for nominations now open!
Submission deadline October 1 2011.
ISA is seeking nominations from full member organisations for those with a passion and willingness to contribute to the work of ISA in a meaningful way to reduce the numbers of stillborn babies and improve care for families who have a stillborn baby no matter where they live. Nominations of those who have played an active role in one or more of the ISA Committees or have made a substantial contribution to the objectives is highly desirable. This year we are specifically seeking Board’s representation and expertise in the following areas: low and middle income countries; the discipline of midwifery; and those with expertise in business management and fundraising. Kindly submit nominations by completing the nominations form and submit to the ISA secretariat via nfo@stillbirthalliance.org. Elections will be undertaken at the General Assembly to be held at the ISA Conference in Antigua Conference November 4th.
ISA Position Statement on Fetal Movement Monitoring
Please click here to view ISA’s position statement on fetal movement monitoring.
To provide your comments please contact the ISA Secretariat.
The Lancet’s stillbirth series - 2.6 million third trimester stillbirths globally every year
With the release of The Lancet’s Stillbirth Series in April 2011, the co-authors of the Series, along with the International Stillbirth Alliance have called for governments, international non-governmental health organisations, international professional organisations, foundations and research institutes to collaboratively take action to prevent the 2.6 million third trimester stillbirths which occur yearly. This is a call to action and if a difference is to be made in the prevention of stillbirths we all must work together to respond.
With more than 7,300 babies stillborn worldwide every day, and 98% of this loss of life occurring in low and middle income countries, The Lancet’s Stillbirth Series highlights for the first time the estimated size of the global burden of stillbirth, marking a giant step on the path to stillbirth prevention and delivering what many have searched and hoped for - a tangible means by which to reduce the numbers of these deaths globally.
With 69 authors from over 50 institutions across 18 countries, and seven launch events in London, New York, Hobart, Geneva, Florence, New Delhi and Cape Town, the launch of The Lancet’s Stillbirth Series not only heralds a brand new day for many who have worked tirelessly to bring the attention to this human tragedy but also illustrates the will and determination of an international community seeking change.
The International Stillbirth Alliance is proud to be involved in this important moment in international public health and is committed to the continuation of facilitating high quality research, improving practice and ensuring the best of care to affected women and families across the world.
ISA now calls on parent-based organisations and professionals bodies to strengthen their work together to create the change that is needed to reduce the numbers of lives lost through stillbirth.
For international comparison (as different countries use different cut offs) the rates used are based on the WHO definition for stillbirths. Most high-income countries count stillbirths around 22 weeks’ gestation and if this definition was used worldwide the total number of global stillbirths would be about 45% higher. Using the 22 week cut-off point for stillbirths in high- income countries changes the risk of stillbirth from 1 in 320 babies (3.1 per 1000) to 1 in 200 (5 per 1000) in those countries.
Joy Lawn and colleagues explore the implications of the first ever set of nationally reviewed stillbirth estimates undertaken with the WHO (paper 2). Rates of stillbirths range from 2.0 per 1000 total births in Finland to more than 40 per 1000 in Nigeria and Pakistan. In 2009, 98% of all stillbirths were in low-income and middle-income countries and more than three quarters (76%) occurred in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Most high-income countries have rates less than 5 per 1000, while high burden countries have rates of 25 or more per 1000; if these highest-burden countries had rates of the same as rich nations, more than three quarters of the world’s annual stillbirths would be prevented.
Approximately 1.2 million stillbirths occur during birth (intrapartum) and 1.4 million before birth (antepartum). Most intrapartum stillbirths are associated with obstetric emergencies (childbirth complications) and these deaths have been virtually eliminated in high-income countries. Antepartum stillbirths are more commonly associated with maternal infections and fetal growth restriction. For example syphilis is a highly preventable cause of stillbirth, still common in some countries. In high-income countries, obesity, smoking, and advanced maternal age are among the big risk factors.
The Lancet editors have included a photo of parents with their stillborn baby which clearly illustrates the enormity of this loss. This series gives hope that the invisibility of stillbirth, which has held back progress for so long, is now over.
ISA Chair, A/Prof Vicki Flenady said today, “a significant decrease in the number of babies born still can be achieved with a commitment to action towards prevention of the death of babies who die before they are born. This can be done by research and sharing learning’s and strategies that work towards improving maternal health, fetal health, support to families and the delivery of care preconception, prenatally, in labour and in the community .”
The Lancet’s Stillbirth Series addresses stillbirth rates and causes in all countries, and sets key actions by 2020 to halve this event that devastates parents and families. The international team involves 69 authors, from more than 50 organisations across 18 countries, who have worked for over 2 years on the analysis. The work was primarily funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
For more information and to access The Lancet’s Stillbirth Series please visit here.
& nbsp; STILLBIRTH TO BE HIGHLIGHTED INTERNATIONALLY IN APRIL 2011
- AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE STILLBIRTH ISSUES IN YOUR COUNTRY
Shockingly, each year there are an estimated 3.2 million stillbirths across the world. Global attention is needed both politically and via the media to prevent stillbirths.
In April 2011 the Lancet medical journal is focusing on stillbirth in a series of six papers authored by leading international stillbirth researchers. The Lancet is a highly respected journal which has international recognition and influence. The Stillbirth Series brings together the latest global stillbirth statistics with analysis of rates, causes and strategies for preventing deaths from the perspectives of low and high income countries.
The message in this Series is that stillbirth is a major, yet almost completely neglected health priority and that there is evidence that the rates of stillbirth could be substantially reduced. The Series concludes with a Global Call to Action which sets out steps that should be taken to reduce this tragic loss of life– many of them relatively simple and economical.
The Stillbirth Series presents an opportunity to advocate and influence maternal and infant health outcomes and the provision of maternity care in your own country. It provides clear evidence and authoritative recommendations for action which have the potential to inform health policy and be acted upon by governments, health organizations and the public.
We encourage ISA members and interested parties, parent groups in particular, to bring the recommendations to the attention of their own health policy makers and use the Series to raise the profile of stillbirths and the devastating impact these deaths have in their own country.
Resources will be posted on the ISA website to support our member organizations and others interested in publicizing the Lancet Series outcomes. Included here will be a sample press release, key messages, frequently asked questions, advice on approaching the media, quotes and images.
We anticipate the Series will receive prominent international media attention which can be capitalized by encouraging international and local media interest.
If you have any questions please contact the ISA Secretariat.
ISA and ISPID thank AusAID for support
Seven delegates from low – middle income countries were given the rare opportunity to attend the ISA/ISPID International Conference, ‘Precious Lives: Global Collaboration in Stillbirth and Infant Death’.
Through the AusAID International Seminar Support Scheme (ISSS) delegates from Vietnam, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan and Nepal were able to visit Sydney, Australia in October last year to gain insight into the way in which many countries aim to reduce stillbirth and infant death rates.
Delegates were given the opportunity to share information with other attendees from a wide range of disciplines within the field of maternal and child health globally, enabling them to present appropriate policies and program to their local decision and policy makers.
Deputy Secretary General from the Sudan Fertility Care Association (SFDA), Dr Nasr Abdalla said, "Sudan witnesses some of the highest rates of maternal and infant death worldwide. The information and lesson I learnt at the conference in the 'city of villages' will help in future planning of maternal and newborn health programs". |
ISA 2011 Conference to be held in Antigua Barbuda – ALL Welcome
Date: 5th-7th November 2011
Location: American University of Antigua, Antigua
ISA is pleased to announce that the location for its 2011 conference is the tropical, Caribbean island of Antigua and Barbuda. According to 2008 estimates, the reported infant mortality rate in this region is 17.6 per 1000 births and the legal age of viability is 28/40 gestation.
This conference, co-hosted by SANDS Antigua Barbuda and the American University of Antigua, will focus on improving the care parents receive when their baby dies with interactive workshops organised and a bereavement track based on regional grief and support, creating memories, culture and religion and future pregnancies.
SANDS Antigua Barbuda hope to eventually offer support services to the wider Caribbean region.
If you are interested in attending please contact SANDS Antigua Barbuda Coordinator and Midwife Caron Millard at info@sands-antigua-barbuda.com.
We hope you can make it!
ISA World Circle of Loved and Remembered Babies
This ISA project has been organised to give families and friends the opportunity to honour, publicly recognise and memorialize a baby who has died. Writing a loving message about a special baby is one way to create a beautiful memory.
Parents who have experienced the death of their baby may often find great comfort in creating memories and then sharing them over time with others.
[ More ]
Memorial Donations
If you wish to memorialize a special baby by supporting any of the following we would be most grateful. A donation of any amount will be gratefully accepted and you or your loved ones will receive a memorial card.
[ More ]
ISA Strategic Goals for 2009 – 2013
This document outlines the mission, vision, guiding principles and strategic goals for ISA over the next 5 years. For more information about ISA’s strategic direction and goals over the next 5 years, please contact the International Stillbirth Alliance secretariat at info@stillbirthalliance.org.
[ Download ]
ANZ Regional Office
ANZSA is the Australia and New Zealand regional office for the International Stillbirth Alliance.
ANZSA is an alliance of organisations and individuals focussing on stillbirth prevention through
conduct of high quality research and supporting evidence based maternity care.
[ More ]
News & Events
ISA Newsletter Vol II, Number 2
ISA Newsletter Vol II, Number 1
International Stillbirth Research Alert Issue 2
ISA Newsletter Volume I, Number 2
[ More ]
We need your support
Can you write professional plain-language summaries of research paper abstracts?
ISA urgently needs volunteers to assist with writing research summaries.
[ More ]
“From My Heart” fundraising campaign
ISA is honoured to partner with Naomi Arnold, a contemporary pianist, composer, songwriter and singer. For each donation of $100.00 or more you will receive a copy of Naomi’s CD “From My Heart”. This beautiful compilation includes songs that Naomi has written and dedicated to her stillborn children, Brady and Danielle. To learn more about Naomi and her music, please visit http://www.musicbynaomi.com [ Make a donation now ]
Recent Publications
Recent publications and essential reading about stillbirth are included here.
[ More ]
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