2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Ignác Semmelweis. On this important anniversary the Permanent Mission of Hungary to the United Nations in cooperation with the Semmelweis Medical History Museum hosted an exhibition from 9 to 15 March, 2015 at the United Nations Headquarter in New York, on the margins of the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Semmelweis proved that puerperal or “childbed” fever, which was one of the main causes of maternal mortality, can be fully prevented. Described as the "savior of mothers", Semmelweis discovered that the use of hand washing in obstetrical clinics could drastically reduce the number of women dying after childbirth. Semmelweis's ideas earned widespread acceptance only years after his death.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition on 11 March, 2015 H.E. Ms. Katalin Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations described Ignác Semmelweis as the first „HeForShe”, a Hungarian physician known today as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures.
In her welcoming remarks H.E. Ms. Katalin Novák, Minister of State for Family and Youth Affairs of Hungary stressed the importance of healthcare at birth and in early childhood, the protection of mothers and the important role of the 100-year-old health visitor system in Hungary.
H.E. Ms. Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Women highlighted the promotion of maternal and new born child health, the role of UN-Women in poor countries and the success of UN awareness and guidance programs.
