�The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) will host an evening lecture by award-winning lensman and film maker Nancy Durrell McKenna on 4 September. The event is organised by the Royal Photographic Society and is share of their International Awards.
Ms McKenna was awarded the Combined Royal Colleges Medal in 2007. This Medal was established 50 years agone by the Royal Photographic Society in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians of London, The Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. It is awarded annually for an outstanding contribution to picture taking and/or its application in the robert William Service of medicine and operating room.
Professor Ralph Jacobson, Chairman of The Royal Photographic Society Awards Committee said "Her work brings capital credit to all those involved in the award and visually articulates at the highest level the problems of women's health in the developing earth".
Titled Images for Life, Ms McKenna will hash out her mould as a photographer documenting pregnancy and birth in developing countries. Her images have been used as a hefty medium to convey the plight of women living in countries where access to basic obstetric care is poor, often leading to unneeded morbidity and death. Her photojournalism has covered maternal mortality in countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Thailand.
Ms McKenna aforementioned "Having worked on the themes of women's sex, birth and reproductive health through photography for the past xXV years, it is a great honour to bear this work recognised by the Royal Colleges.
"It is the power of the image to 'tell a story' and counselor for change that is the drive force behind the photographs I get hold of. One woman dies every minute, somewhere in the world, due to the complications of pregnancy and childbirth. This is a tragedy and one that is preventable.
"If my photographs high spot the need to invest more in women's health - peculiarly in developing countries - then I am victimisation my creativeness to the best of my power."
Dr Anthony Falconer, Vice President of the RCOG International Office said "Here in the West, we live in an affluent society and sometimes the very thought of parental suffering in other countries is abstract.
"In the UK thither is a comprehensive nerve tract of upkeep to reinforcement a woman during her pregnancy, birth and in the postnatal period. In some countries however, women do not have access to the services which we take for granted.
"These photographs are poignant, rousing emotions which wrangle fail to convey. They are beautiful and remind us of the symbolic imagery of mother and child which has a long tradition dating back to primitive times."
Notes
Images for Life will take places at the RCOG on Thursday 4 September 2008. To opinion a locating map with directions to the RCOG, please tick here.
Entry is free of charge up and to book your place, please contact Jo Macdonald, Awards Manager Royal Photographic Society on jo@rps.org or call: +44 (0) 1225 325721.
The programme for the evening is:
18.30 - Drinks reception
19.30 - Lecture by Nancy Durrell McKenna followed by questions
21.00 - Close
Royal Photographic Society International Awards
For more information about the RPS awards, please visit http://www.rps.org/annual-awards
RCOG International Office
The RCOG International Office was established in November 2006 and currently has projects in India, Kenya, Kurdistan, Nigeria, Philippines, Somaliland, Sri Lanka and Yemen.
The aims and objectives of the RCOG IO are:
- to draw on the expertise and feel of the RCOG and its spheric network to make an effective part to improving sexual and reproductive healthcare worldwide. In particular to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity by increasing knowingness of parental health at global, regional and national levels to politicians, professionals and the public
- to focus on capacity development through training, exchange programmes, provision of guidelines and setting standards that ar relevant to the local situation. For example, the delivery of our Life Saving Skills Manual and Course with a focus on exigency obstetric concern for use of goods and services by midwives, clinical officers, medical assistants and doctors working in resource-poor settings
- to work with governments and international organisations at policy degree to make long term "buy-in" to improving tone of caution and education including regular monitoring and evaluation
- to develop and apply new knowledge collected through enquiry, which meets local needs and straight informs policy
- to work in partnership with other UK and international agencies
For more than information about RCOG outside initiatives, please click here.
About Nancy Durrell McKenna and SafeHands for Mothers
Nancy Durrell McKenna founded the charity SafeHands for Mothers in 2003, dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality globally, and with a grant from the Band Aid Trust produced a preparation film, The Big Push, aimed at improving skills and awareness in prenatal and postnatal care.
For more information about SafeHands for Mothers, please inspect http://www.safehands.org
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
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