The Adventist Development and Relief Agency office in Bolivia has won a 2002 White Ribbon Alliance Contest for Safe Motherhood. ADRA received the award for its innovative, multi-faceted approach to promoting principles of maternal health throughout this South American country. 

During April ADRA Bolivia conducted six major activities in towns throughout the Chuquisaca Department of Boliva, including educational workshops; competitions to create posters, songs, and dramas that promote safe motherhood; a maternal health parade; panel discussions; promotion of an emergency transport system; and a municipal health fair devoted to safe motherhood. In addition, ADRA Bolivia trained 100 community health promoters who then went to communities to share safe motherhood strategies and details about the National Health Insurance program that is offered to all citizens of Bolivia.

The White Ribbon Alliance, which presented the award, is a collaboration of international and local non-governmental organizations working with governments to make safe motherhood a priority. Organized in 1999, the White Ribbon Alliance is a united, multi-faceted effort to decrease the number of maternal deaths related to childbirth. Approximately 154 organizations representing 18 countries have joined the Alliance.

Each year, the White Ribbon Alliance recognizes three safe motherhood projects. The awards include a round trip ticket to Washington, D.C., accommodations, and registration for the annual meeting of the Global Health Council where on May 31, the three winners made presentations about their projects. Representatives from EngenderHealth, Save the Children, United Nations Population Fund, and the United States Agency for International Development served as judges for this year’s contest.