UN Launches Global Strategy For Women's And Children's Health

Launched on 22 September 2010, The Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health sets out a plan to save the lives of millions of women and children.

“The 21st century must be and will be different for every woman and every child,” said Secretary-General  Ban Ki-moon, who launched the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health at UN Headquarters on the margins of a high-level summit on the (MDGs).

The MDGs, a series of globally agreed social and economic targets with a 2015 deadline, include a number of health objectives, such as Goal 4 on reducing the mortality rate for children under the age of five by two thirds and Goal 5 on slashing maternal mortality rates by three quarters, both from their 1990 figures.

Today’s launch, which included the private sector, foundations, international organizations, civil society and research groups, represents a major step towards filling the gap between the investment needed and what is currently provided for women’s and children’s health – with over $40 billion in resources committed over the next five years.

“We are teaming up to put women and children first backed by $40 billion in resources and many ambitious pledges to do more for women’s and children’s health,” Mr. Ban told reporters after the launch. “These commitments will ensure more health for the money, and more money for health.”

The Global Strategy identifies the finance and policy changes needed, along with vital interventions to help improve health and save lives. It is expected to prevent, between 2011 and 2015, the deaths of more than 15 million children under five, as well as 33 million unwanted pregnancies and the deaths of 740,000 women from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.

For more info, refer to the official Global Strategy document.