CHELMSFORD: Mum in bid to curb stillborn rate

By afitzgerald

A POWERFUL campaign to prevent the deaths of 17 babies a day in the UK is being backed by celebrities and politicians in Essex.

The Why 17? campaign was launched by Sands, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity, at a reception held at the House of Commons.

The aim of the campaign is to highlight the fact that every day in the UK 17 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth, the equivalent of 16 jumbo jets crashing every year with no survivors.

Sands believes many of the deaths could be avoided and babies' lives saved.

Among those at the parliamentary launch of the Why 17? campaign were bereaved parents, including Mahri-Claire Beere from Chelmsford whose first baby, Noah, was stillborn in 2005.

She is backing the campaign along with other supporters including MPs John Whittingdale and Simon Burns and celebrity chef Stein Smart from Essex, from the TV programme Hell's Kitchen.

Mahri-Claire said: "Stillbirth is a subject people avoid talking about, so there is a great lack of awareness.

"Losing a baby is one of the most devastating events that can happen in anyone's life and is one of the least acknowledged.

"Most people think stillbirths don't happen in the 21st century, yet stillbirth in the UK is 10 times more common than cot death.

"As tragic as these figures are, the greater tragedy would be to not learn from this and ask the vital question, why are 17 babies a day dying and what can be done to halt this national tragedy?

"Through the Why 17? campaign we hope to raise money to fund vital research into the causes of stillbirth and neonatal death.

"If this can save just one family from grief, it will be worth it."

John Whittingdale, MP for Maldon and East Chelmsford, who attended the launch said: "I was shocked to discover there are 6,500 stillbirth and neonatal deaths every year in the UK.

"I am fully committed to supporting Sands in their call for action now to make a difference so more lives can be saved in the future."

Simon Burns, MP for West Chelmsford and celebrity chef Stein Smart, a patron of the charity, whose son Charlie was stillborn two years ago, are also giving the campaign high profile backing.

To find out more about the Sands Why17? campaign and the charity's Saving Babies' Lives Report 2009 visit the charity's website at www.uk-sands.org