In light of the recent celebration of Mother’s Day, the sad news that maternal mortality rates are up in America tells us it is time to do what it takes protect mothers. (“U.S. pregnancy deaths up, and report says most are preventable,” Mike Stobbe and Marilynn Marchione, Spokesman-Review, May 7).

While globally, the rates are dropping, still about 800 mothers die every day of mostly preventable causes. In America, making sure there is adequate health insurance for all can help turn this around. Internationally, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria is making a difference with programs that help keep girls in school, resulting in fewer pregnancies and lower rates of HIV.

As a future gift to all mothers, how about calling or writing those who represent you in Congress and asking them to take action to lower these deadly statistics by making sure health insurance works for all in America and our bold pledge to the Global Fund continues.

Willie Dickerson

Snohomish