A Letter from Amnesty International

Our health care system failed Linda; she died needlessly from childbirth. This Mother’s Day, stand up for ALL mothers. Support Amnesty’s work on maternal health today.

Dear Rector, A few weeks ago, we shared with you the tragic story of Linda Coale,a healthy 35-year-old woman who died just days after giving birth to her son, Benjamin. Her age and delivery via c-section made her a high-risk case, yet no one – nurse, doctor, hospital welcome packet – told her to watch for signs of a blood clot. She slipped through the cracks and died. Benjamin, now 2, can’t celebrate Mother’s Day with his mom. But you can help save another son or daughter the heartbreak of growing up without a mother. Support our campaign to prevent needless maternal deaths in the United States. Watch this short video about Linda and Benjamin made with Linda’s sister, Clare. Then please donate to Amnesty in honor of a special mom in your life for Mother’s Day. A safe birth is a specially protected human right – a right that’s denied every day in communities throughout the United States. Half the maternal deaths in this country are preventable. Pregnant women deserve better care. They shouldn’t die because they were not given the routine medical information that could save their life. Our maternal death rate is shameful – in 40 countries women have a lower risk of maternal death than in the United States, and all of those countries spend less on health care – but there is something we can do about it. Amnesty’s work on maternal health tackles the root causes of preventable maternal death such as discrimination, inadequate care and lack of secure access to care. Our goal is to reverse the odds for pregnant women and make safe birth a top priority in the U.S. health system. Our strategy has worked to make substantive changes and save women’s lives in Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso. Now it’s time to rise up for American women and children. As human rights defenders we have an obligation to prevent needless deaths from childbirth.There is no excuse for failing another mother. Help families celebrate a thousand more Mother’s Days with a gift to Amnesty International today.And when you send your gift, be sure to tell the special mom in your life about your special deed with our animated Mother’s Day e-card. Happy Mother’s Day, Nan Strauss Researcher Amnesty International USA

Remembering those who lost their lives

A U.S. Soldier hands a folded American flag to the family member of a deceased explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician during the 41st annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial Service at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 1, 2010. Memorials at the complex are held to honor the EOD service members who have lost their lives on active duty as a result of EOD missions since the declaration of World War II. This year, 16 names were added to the memorial, bringing the total to 254 names. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jennifer A. Villalovos, U.S. Navy/Released)

Flooded streets

 Rescue personnel navigate flooded streets in the family housing section of Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tenn., May 1, 2010. Two days of rain dumped more than 14 inches in the area, causing a levee to become overrun, flooding the base and surrounding community. (DoD photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy/Released)

To support cleanup efforts from the Deep water

The U.S. Coast Guard seagoing buoy tender USCGC Oak (WLB 211) gets underway on May 4, 2010, as the seagoing buoy tender USCGC Cypress (WLB 210) stands-by to deploy from Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., to support cleanup efforts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Deepwater Horizon was an ultra-deepwater oil rig that sank April 22, causing a massive oil spill threatening the U.S. Gulf Coast. DoD photo by Patrick Nichols, U.S. Navy. (Released)

Face of Defense: Medical Tech Puts Skills to Work

By Air Force Capt. Joe Campbell
386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA, May 6, 2010 : There aren't enough physicians in the Air Force to be placed everywhere they may be needed. However, airmen in certain career fields can perform limited medical treatment in their stead.

Independent duty medical technicians like Air Force Master Sgt. Roberto Gutierrez from the 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron here often are attached to units in isolated locations to tend to the units' medical needs. "Since there are fewer than 500 of us in the Air Force, most folks have not even heard of us," Gutierrez said. "We are usually attached to flying units or other units that deploy in remote and austere locations." As a member of a small-in-numbers career field, Gutierrez provides a variety of critical services to his unit, performing numerous jobs to support the mission. "We are physician extenders and force multipliers capable of providing different aspects of medicine with a small footprint," he said. "I have multiple jobs here; IDMTs are like a hospital in a package. I treat patients, do sick call, immunizations, dental [and] bioenvironmental duties, such as checking water quality, public health inspections of eateries and the dining hall." Deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan, the Manila, Philippines, native said there are some aspects of being an independent duty medical technician at a deployed location that differ from his job in garrison. There, he does a lot of training; here, he puts those skills to work. "Being a part of a squadron medical element at home station, we train constantly under the supervision of our medical preceptor," he said. "We have functional area trainers who ensure we are on top of our game, so that we are proficient in all aspects of the job when it comes to medicine and environmental sanitation." A typical day in the U.S. Air Forces Central area of responsibility for Gutierrez includes following up on patients at the expeditionary medical support unit and gathering supplies. "My day starts out by visiting [expeditionary medical support] to check for any patients seen after hours, and also to pick up needed supplies," the 22-year Air Force veteran said. "We keep close tabs on our patients, especially the aircrew, to ensure they are fit-to-fly to accomplish the mission. We see a variety of medical conditions just like in EMEDs, but with the convenience [for patients] of being close to the flightline." Gutierrez said that in order to be successful, IDMTs cannot be shy or afraid to tackle differing aspects of the health care profession. Additionally, an IDMT must be able to work independently. "Most essential to successful mission accomplishment here is ensuring personnel are in the best health and condition possible," he said. "I enjoy interacting with people and being involved in their medical care. It is challenging to learn different aspects of the operations world, but I have to be in touch with patients and familiar with their jobs and duties so I may better care for them." Gutierrez said his current deployment is his best, in part, because of the quality-of-life initiatives. "I love deployments, and each one is unique," he said. "I love the fact that I bring my specialty to the fight. This deployment surely has been my best, so far. "The quality of life here is outstanding," Gutierrez continued. He and his fellow servicemembers, he said, enjoy "a great dining hall," and around-the-clock Internet access. Photo detail : Air Force Master Sgt. Roberto Gutierrez listens to a patient's lungs May 1, 2010, at an air base in Southwest Asia. Gutierrez is an independent duty medical technician with the 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Joe Campbell

Related Sites: U.S. Air Forces Central

President Barack Obama addresses media

President Barack Obama addresses media at Coast Guard Station Venice, La., May 2, 2010. Obama was in the area to view the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (DoD photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley, U.S. Coast Guard/Released)

Security in the village

A U.S. Soldier provides security in the village of Al Kuthra, Iraq, on the outskirts of Basra, Iraq, April 26, 2010. U.S. Soldiers of the 318th Psychological Operations Company, attached to the 17th Fires Brigade are visiting to speak with the Al Shakamra tribe. (DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Adelita Mead, U.S. Army/Released)

Condolences during a meeting

 From left, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen offer condolences to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski during a meeting in the Pentagon April 29, 2010. The two expressed their sorrow concerning the plane crash that occurred near Smolensk, Russia, April 10, 2010, killing 97 Polish officials, including President Lech Kaczynski and his wife. (DoD photo by R. D. Ward/Released)