# Rewriting the story of birth | Marleen Temmerman & Stephan Balzer | TEDxBerlin Salon

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_i8Qf86auM
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/D_i8Qf86auM
Generated: 2026-02-19T20:34:39.536+00:00

---
## Quick Overview

Marleen Temmerman, a gynecologist and former Belgian Senator, advocates for unified global efforts, especially involving political leaders, scientists, and NGOs, to address preventable maternal mortality, citing her work in Kenya and the need to break down silos across different systems like healthcare and politics.

**Key Points:**
- Temmerman spent 10 years working in Kenya, including at Aga Khan University and in slums in Nairobi and Pumwani, focusing on maternal health.
- She highlights that in 2017, 72 women died in her hands due to preventable causes, which motivated her career shift towards politics and policy.
- Temmerman notes that despite significant progress, especially in reducing maternal mortality (nearly 40% reduction since 2015 Millennium Development Goals), there is still a massive gap.
- She emphasizes the need for integrated collaboration between various sectors—politics, science, NGOs, and the private sector—to implement changes effectively.
- She points out that only 2% of scientists working on maternal/newborn health are recognized by institutions like Stanford University, indicating a lack of broad recognition for critical research.
- Temmerman stresses that successful implementation requires clear goals and a unified leadership approach, rather than fragmented efforts across different silos.

![Screenshot at 00:08: The interview setting at TEDxBerlin Salon, showing Marleen Temmerman and Stephan Balzer seated on stage for a conversation titled 'The First Breath: Stories of Life and Science'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/D_i8Qf86auM/00-00-08.jpg)

**Context:** This video features an interview at a TEDxBerlin Salon event called "The First Breath: Stories of Life and Science," featuring Marleen Temmerman and Stephan Balzer. Temmerman is introduced as a gynecologist, former Senator in Belgium, and a figure with extensive experience in global health, particularly in Kenya, who transitioned from clinical practice to policy work to tackle preventable maternal deaths.

## Detailed Analysis

The interview focuses on Marleen Temmerman's career trajectory, starting from her work as a gynecologist in clinical practice and academia, including over 600 publications and supervising 50 PhD students, to her transition into politics as an elected Senator in Belgium. She recounts being deeply affected by the 72 maternal deaths she witnessed in her care in Kenya between 2017 and her subsequent decision to move into policy, driven by the need to address systemic issues. Temmerman notes the significant, yet insufficient, progress made toward the Millennium Development Goals for maternal mortality, citing a 40% reduction, but stressing that many deaths remain preventable. She argues that the current fragmented approach, where different sectors (government, science, NGOs, private sector) work in silos, wastes energy and time. She calls for a unified leadership approach and better collaboration across these sectors to effectively implement necessary changes in global health, particularly concerning maternal and newborn health, which she believes is a critical area needing unified action.

### Temmerman's Career Trajectory

- Transition from clinical practice (gynecology) and academia (over 600 publications, 50 PhD students) to politics (Belgian Senator)
- Motivated by 72 preventable maternal deaths witnessed in Kenya in 2017
- Current focus on global health and policy.

### Global Health Challenges

- Acknowledges progress in reducing maternal mortality (40% drop since 2015 MDGs) but highlights that many deaths remain preventable
- Cites the need for better implementation of existing knowledge.

### Call for Collaboration

- Argues against working in silos (politics, science, NGOs, private sector) as it wastes energy and time
- Stresses the need for unified leadership and collaboration to achieve goals like SDG 3 (maternal mortality reduction).

### Recognition and Impact

- Notes that only 2% of scientists working on maternal/newborn health are recognized by institutions like Stanford, indicating a recognition gap
- Emphasizes the power of unified action to create systemic change.

![Screenshot at 00:01: Title slide for the TEDxBerlin Salon event: 'The First Breath: Stories of Life and Science'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/D_i8Qf86auM/00-00-01.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:08: Stephan Balzer introduces Marleen Temmerman and Stephan Balzer for the interview on stage.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/D_i8Qf86auM/00-00-08.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:31: Marleen Temmerman laughing while referencing notes about Stephan Balzer's background.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/D_i8Qf86auM/00-00-31.jpg)
![Screenshot at 01:37: Marleen Temmerman thanking the moderator and audience, holding a red smartphone.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/D_i8Qf86auM/00-01-37.jpg)
![Screenshot at 02:39: Marleen Temmerman reading from her notes about a campaign titled 'Poverty is Sexist'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/D_i8Qf86auM/00-02-39.jpg)