UN launches 25 bln USD strategy to end preventable deaths of mothers, children

The United Nations on Saturday launched an ambitious public-private strategy to end preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents, with initial commitments of more than 25 billion U.S. dollars for the next five years to provide life-saving treatments, from immunizations to perinatal care.

The Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents'Health includes new policies and ground-breaking partnerships from 40 countries and more than 100 international organizations, philanthropic foundations, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector.

"The Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health, which I am proud to launch today, will help to build resilient and healthy societies," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"We have shown that our partnership can yield concrete results," Ban said. "I, and the entire UN system, remain dedicated to saving and improving the lives of the most vulnerable amongst us."

The commitments, which are expected to grow significantly in the coming years, include 3.3 billion U.S. dollars from the United States, 2.6 billion dollars from Canada, 2.5 billion dollars from Sweden, 1.3 billion dollars from Germany, 420 million dollars from Norway, 326 million dollars from the Netherlands, and 300 million dollars from the Republic of Korea.

The Strategy builds on 15 years of progress under the Millennium Development Goals and the Every Woman Every Child movement, a partnership launched in 2010 to mobilize and intensify international and national action by governments, multilaterals, the private sector and civil society to address the major health challenges facing women and children.

Earlier this year, the secretary-general said such preventable deaths could be ended within a generation with political commitment, an increase in financing and strong partnership.

He noted that remarkable progress had already been made on preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission, increasing availability of oral rehydration therapy for treating infant diarrhoea, exclusive breastfeeding and in post-natal care for women, as well as increasing professional maternity care, family planning, childhood vaccinations, and prenatal care.

The Saturday announcement comes on the heels of the adoption by world leaders on Friday of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to wipe out extreme poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years.