Susan Aldworth, born in 1955, is an artist known for her exploration of consciousness, identity, and the human mind. With a background in philosophy, Aldworth’s exemplifies the blend of art and science and establisher her as a significant figure in the UK’s Art & Science movement since the late 1990s.
Her creative practice utilizes various mediums, including printmaking, drawing, installation, and time-based media, bringing into light the lived experiences of individuals, particularly those related to medical and psychological conditions.
Aldworth’s work is featured in prestigious collections such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum, and the British Library, and she has exhibited extensively both in the UK and internationally.
Dr. Joia A. Crear-Perry is a prominent physician, policy expert, and a dedicated advocate for social justice, particularly in the realm of maternal and child health. As the founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative, she has committed her career to addressing the deep-rooted issues of racial inequities in healthcare.
Dr. Crear-Perry’s work challenges systemic racism as a fundamental cause of health disparities, making her a sought-after speaker and trainer featured in various national and international media, including Essence and Ms. magazines.
About 287,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2020. Around 95% of these maternal deaths occurred in low and lower middle-income countries and nearly every death was preventable. Equally, children under the age of five continue to face differing chances of survival based on where they are born and raised.
A child born in sub-Saharan Africa is 11 times more likely to die in the first month of life than one born in the region of Australia and New Zealand, and a 15-year-old girl in sub-Saharan Africa is 400 times more likely to die in her lifetime due to issues related to childbirth than a 15-year-old girl living in Australia and New Zealand (with the ratio for SSA being 1 in 40, compared to ANZ being 1 in 16,000 women).
Maternal health has long been a central focus in global initiatives, prominently featured in key frameworks such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health.
Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the ambitious targets—particularly those aimed at reducing maternal mortality—remain unmet.
A recent report from the Copenhagen Consensus Center highlights these challenges, and this infographic offers further insight into the statistics.
