Next Summer's G-8 Summit To Focus On Maternal, Child Health, Canadian Prime Minister Says

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 29 Jan 2010 - 5:00 PDT

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"As president of the G-8 in 2010, Canada will champion a major initiative to improve the health of women and children in the world's poorest regions," Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper writes in a Toronto Star editorial. Canada will lay out its plans as president of the G-8 and host of June's G-20 summit when global leaders meet this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Harper says.

According to Harper, "The world's poor have been hit hardest by the global economic downturn, and in these difficult times we must address their pressing needs." He continues, "Each year, it is estimated that 500,000 women lose their lives during pregnancy or childbirth," adding that "an astonishing nine million children die before their fifth birthday." Harper writes, "This is simply not acceptable." The United Nations' Millennium Development Goals called for reducing the number of pregnancy-related deaths by 75% by 2015, according to Harper. "It now appears this target will go unfulfilled," he says, adding, "What makes it worse is that the bulk of deaths during pregnancy -- experts claim as many as 80% -- are easily preventable."

Harper continues, "Far too many lives and unexplored futures have already been lost for want of relatively simple health care solutions," which are "not intrinsically expensive." He explains, "The cost of clean water, inoculations and better nutrition, as well as the training of health workers to care for women and deliver babies, is within reach of any country in the G-8." As part of the maternal and child health initiative, Canada will work to mobilize other G-8 countries, non-governmental organizations and private foundations, Harper writes. He adds, "Setting a global agenda for improving maternal and child health is an ambitious plan. But working with other nations and aid agencies on the ground where the need is greatest makes it an achievable goal" (Harper, Toronto Star, 1/26).

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