Ashu is a registered midwife in Cameroon, as well as an author, a blogger at Marthie’s Midwifery Diary who writes about the work of midwives and shares her knowledge on pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. The foundation she started, For Mom and Baby Foundation, provides community workshops and distributes emergency kits to pregnant women in crisis-stricken areas.
The Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards are an annual recognition of remarkable individuals taking action to help achieve the Global Goals by 2030. The award recognizes individuals who have inspired change using their personal experience or from a position of leadership. The approach of these individuals and organizations is key because they centre the voices and needs of others.
Ashu accepted the award in New York on Tuesday September 19, 2023. In a statement before the awards ceremony, she said, “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of midwives around the world who are working to improve the health of mothers and babies. It is also a validation of my passion for helping women, children and my commitment to making a difference in the world.” Watch her film here
Ever since she was a midwifery student, Ashu has been working to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). It’s not surprising then that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation chose her as one of this year’s awardees. After accepting her award, Ashu said, “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone that has helped me as a young midwife. It is a stamp of victory for every student midwife who ever doubted whether there is a future for midwifery: you can make this profession what you wish it to be.” Watch her award speech here
This award is a global recognition of the incredible work For Mom and Baby Foundation is doing to ensure women and babies do not die from preventable causes.
