In response to this, Sands launched the Why17? campaign. Through the campaign Sands hopes to raise awareness of these unnaceptable levels of baby loss, create a national strategy to reduce the number of babies dying and generate vital funds for research.
Taking Why17? to government
A key part of our camapaign has been to take the campaign to government to create a national strategy for reducing baby deaths. We formally launched our campaign on 4 March 2009 at Westminster. 64 MPs attended the event, as well as over 180 Sands parents, researchers, key supporters and the media. Central to the event was the launch of Sands' Saving Babies' Lives Report, 2009.
The report brings together in one document the range of issues which are key to reducing stillbirths and neonatal deaths in the UK. It argues that the numbers of baby deaths in the UK today is unacceptable, and that failure to recognise the problem at all levels means that little is being done to improve the situation. It highlights the devastating impact of a baby’s death on the parents, their family and friends, and why we believe that many of these deaths could be prevented.
We also took the Why17? campaign to the other devolved governments in the UK. Holding major awareness raising events in each government, we went to Walesduring June 2009, Scotland in November 2009 and Northern Ireland in March 2010 where we co-hosted a major event with the charities Bliss and TinyLife.
Research
We have also been raising vital funds for research to try and find out why so many babies are dying and develop strategies to save babies' lives.
To find out more about our research agenda and what you can do to help please go to our research page.
Please follow the links to find out more about the aims of our campaign and the vital research that is needed to try and drive down this shocking level of baby loss.
