Dear CHIFA colleagues,
The testimonies from Kelli (Finley Genevieve) and Marti (Julia “Rose”) bring a powerful human dimension to our discussion on Group B Strep. Their stories highlight similar themes: false reassurance from routine screening, subtle symptoms being overlooked, and missed opportunities for timely intervention. Both mothers describe receiving incomplete or inconsistent information about GBS risks, and both witnessed how quickly the disease can become fatal.
Moreover, both Marti and Kelli have channelled their grief into positive action and advocacy. After losing their daughters, they committed themselves to raising awareness, improving education, and helping other families and health workers recognise and respond to GBS risks more effectively. This is remarkable and inspirational.
Kelli says "Finley’s life was only one day long, but her legacy is helping to create conversations that can save countless others" and Marti ends her message "Looking forward to empowering parents and healthcare workers through this global discussion".
By bringing this topic to the attention of CHIFA members, representing child health professionals and others worldwide, I too look forward to this global conversation.
More info: www.hifa.org/gbs
To review messages sent on CHIFA: www.hifa.org/readchifa
Many thanks, Neil
CHIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org