Essex: MP’s selfie raises awareness for charity campaign

Sir Bob Russell has taken a selfie to raise awareness of a charity campaign.

The Colchester MP agreed to the self-taken photo after a request from constituent Su Newton.

Mrs Newton is an ambassador for the charity Group B Strep Support which campaigns for routine screening of expectant mums for the disease.

Group B Strep (GBS) is an infection commonly found in both men and women which is usually harmless. However if transmitted to a baby during birth it can lead to life-threatening conditions including meningitis and ultimately death for the newborn or life-long health issues.

Mrs Newton became an ambassador for the charity this year after her daughter Emily contracted scepticemia as a result of GBS in 2009. Fortunately she suffered no long-lasting ill-effects.

She is encouraging everyone to post a selfie on Twitter with the hashtag #GBSaware to raise and spread awareness of the condition.

The charity is calling for routine screening to allow high-risk mothers to be given antibiotics during labour, a proven treatment to prevent the issue.

Mrs Newton, 43, said: “I am very grateful to Sir Bob for his continued support in helping to raise awareness of Group B Strep.

“He has already raised questions in Parliament on this topic and has been very supportive of the charity’s efforts to promote screening for GBS, the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborns.

“The selfie campaign is a great way of spreading the word and letting everyone know you are #GBSaware.”