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Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Lends Voice to National Children's Health Reform Campaign
Mayor urges community to "speak now for children
June 4, 2009
National Association of Children's Hospitals
Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. has endorsed the National Association of Children's Hospital's (N.A.C.H) Speak Now for Kids in Health Reform campaign. Mayor Riley is the first mayor on record to participate in the national advocacy effort, uploading a personal video testimonial, recorded by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Children's Hospital, in which he discussed the importance of health care coverage for all children.
"There are 8.8 million uninsured children in the United States - this is 11 percent of children in our country. This is a national disgrace," said Mayor Riley. "We are letting our children down, and we cannot do this any longer; it is time to make our voices heard on behalf of the children of our country."
MUSC Children's Hospital contacted Mayor Riley to film this video on behalf of the hospital and the children they serve from every corner of the state. As a leader in advocating for children's health care, MUSC Children's Hospital has been promoting Mayor Riley's video and Speak Now for Kids through various social media efforts including MUSC Kids Facebook Fan Page and Twitter: @MUSCkids
Spearheaded by the National Association of Children's Hospitals, Speak Now for Kids in Health Reform utilizes interactive Web technology to allow advocates to register online as champions for children's health, express their priorities for children in health reform and upload written or video testimonials about their personal experiences with children's health care coverage, delivery, quality and costs. Gathered data is then broken out by state, Congressional district and rolled up nationally to display champions' opinions.
"Mayor Riley is to be congratulated as the one of the very first local elected officials to participate in the Speak Now for Kids campaign," said N.A.C.H. President and CEO Lawrence McAndrews. "It is important for us to continue to reach decision makers at every level of government to ensure that children have a voice in the debate on health reform."
Since launching on May 6, 2009, more than 4,000 advocates have joined the campaign by becoming champions for children's health reform. Nearly 900 individuals have also shared their personal testimonials through words, photographs and videos. The campaign will continue to run through June.
More than 140 children's hospitals and allied organizations have joined the campaign as supporters. National partners of the Speak Now for Kids in Health Reform campaign include the American Academy of Pediatrics, Children's Defense Fund, Children's Health Fund, First Focus and March of Dimes.
To learn more about Speak Now for Kids in Health Reform, campaign partners and supporters visit www.speaknowforkids.org.
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