Take a simple online action that could save lives. Not all mums will be pampered and lavished with expensive gifts this Mother's Day. In fact, many mothers-to-be will not live to see Mother's Day. Every day, 1400 women in the developing world die during pregnancy or childbirth, simply because they don't have access to affordable healthcare.

Oxfam Scotland is calling on Scots to help prevent these unnecessary deaths by asking UK political party leaders to take action on maternal mortality at www.oxfam.org.uk/mothersday.

Following this link will take just seconds but will send a strong message to the politicians.

One of the promises made when the UK signed up to the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set out in 2000 was to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters by the year 2015. However, almost no progress has been made to meet that promise.

Taking action this Mother's Day will remind party leaders of the promises they made and will push them to get the MDGs back on track, saving the lives of millions of women the world over.

Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said:

"Every year millions of women face death, serious illness and permanent disability because of complications during pregnancy and birth. As well as the risk to their own health, mothers in many parts of the world also face losing their children.

"Last year, almost nine million children under five died, 40% of them in the first months of their lives.

"The next UK government must show leadership in addressing the preventable deaths of women and children. I hope the people of Scotland will remember these women on Mother's Day and take this online action to show their support."