Population & Family Health

Maternal Mortality Expert Dr. Grace Kodindo Awarded Prestigious Millennium Development Goal Torch by Danish Government

Dr. Grace Kodindo, Chadian OBGYN and Assistant Clinical Professor of Population and Family Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, was awarded the prestigious Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 Champion Torch in recognition of her efforts to secure comprehensive reproductive health care for women worldwide. The award was presented to Dr. Kodindo by Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs at a ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 4th. The ceremony was also attended by H.R.H. The Crown Princess of Denmark.

As part of Denmark’s call to action on MDG3, the Government of Denmark has created the MDG3 Champion Torch initiative, whereby worthy representatives of governments, the private sector, civil society, the media, individuals from North and South, and international organizations are recognized for their commitment to MDG3 and to “doing something extra” in support of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The MDG3 Torch may be passed to others that make additional commitments – thereby igniting a wave of global resolve in support of MDG3.

During the past summer, Dr. Kodindo toured seven European cities, speaking at screenings of the BBC documentary Dead Mums Don’t Cry. Dead Mums Don’t Cry follows Dr. Kodindo’s work as the head of the primary maternity hospital in Chad in 2005, where she struggled to preserve women’s lives in the face of profound poverty, a dearth of supplies, and minimal government support.

The screening of Dead Mums Don’t Cry is a joint initiative of the Reproductive Health Access, Information and Services in Emergencies (RAISE) Initiative and Countdown 2015. RAISE, managed by the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Marie Stopes International, works to ensure reproductive healthcare in situations of conflict and disaster.

At present, Dr. Kodindo works as the Medical and Advocacy Advisor for the RAISE Initiative. Countdown 2015 comprises a group of 18 European nongovernmental organizations that collaborate to secure funding for vital reproductive health supplies and equipment.