Mulholland highlights Oxfam's maternity mortality campaign at knitting circle

11.14.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 1st Aug 2008

Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, recently took part in a knitting circle at the Oxfam Shop on Otley Road in Headingley as part of Oxfam's Maternal Mortality campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the issue. Staggeringly, a woman dies every minute around the world during childbirth.

Commenting after the event, Greg said:

"I am so happy that I was invited to take part in this important campaign. Death from child birth is very often avoidable. It is absolutely appalling that there are half a million fatalities around the world every year due to a lack of medical care."

The Maternal Mortality campaign invites participants to knit a square to be included in a giant blanket. The blanket is to be presented to Government ahead of a meeting of world leaders where discussion on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals will take place. One of these goals was to reduce the number of women who die in child birth.

Mr. Mulholland: "I would urge as many people as possible to get involved and knit a square for the blanket to show governments around the world that more needs to be done to prevent these avoidable deaths."

If you would like to get involved go to www.oxfam.org.uk/knitting or call the campaign office on 0113 394 4293."

ENDS