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PAHO Issues Call for Action on Healthy Mothers, Children

Washington, D.C., April 7, 2005 (PAHO)—The Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Mirta Roses, today called for a "renewed commitment" over the next five years to save the lives of 220,000 mothers who die in childbirth and children who die before reaching their first birthday.

"Today, as we celebrate World Health Day, dedicated to the health of women and children, I ask you to work with us to raise funds, improve health access, inform the public, reach marginalized groups, help societies save mothers and children, and do everything possible to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of mothers and children over the next five years. Together we can achieve much---but only if we all do our part. We will do ours," said Roses.

Accompanied by Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt and U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Andrew Natsios, Roses said, "As important as saving lives is ensuring long-term health, so that mothers and children can live full and productive lives. I call today for us to renew our commitment to saving lives and ensuring health throughout life. I ask you to continue your fight and help us raise awareness that every mother and child—everywhere—has the right to live and to enjoy a long and healthy life. Only by joining as partners will we be able to achieve the maternal and child health agenda in the new millennium."

Leavitt said "I am committed to improving the health and well-being of people wherever I can, and to continuing the agenda of my predecessor, Tommy Thompson, to make health a priority in U.S. foreign policy. Health diplomacy makes good neighbors and extends America’s spirit of compassion around the world."

Leavitt also announced "a new global project to fight asphyxiation among newborns, which is a major cause of infant death. Through this initiative, called First Breath, we hope to learn how to reduce significantly infant mortality. The initiative will teach birth attendants not just in the U.S. but in hospitals across Asia, Africa and Latin America newborn resuscitation skills."

Natsios said the "dramatic decline in death rates all over Latin America" is one of the greatest public health successes, but there are still broad disparities between urban and rural areas. Noting that United States development assistance rose from $10 billion to $19 billion, he said "We need to strengthen ministries of health centrally as well as the clinics with community-based," and involve the private sector as partners to improve public health.

World Health Day, celebrated every year to mark the founding of the World Health Organization, in 2005 focuses on healthy mothers and children as part of an effort to reduce the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes and the number of young children who die. Every year more than half a million women around the world die from pregnancy-related causes and about 11 million children die, 40 percent of them in the first month of life, according to WHO figures.

Global figures show that 15 percent of all birthing women experience a life-threatening complication, requiring skilled birth attendants, emergency transportation if needed, and quality emergency obstetric care to overcome. While pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death and disability for women aged 15-49 in developing countries, most of these complications could be easily avoided or treated.

In establishing the Millennium Development Goals for 2015, the international community committed to reduce maternal deaths by three quarters, and reduce child mortality by two thirds. The World Health Report released today highlights the invisible health crises which result in the deaths of women having babies, and of young children.

PAHO, which serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their people. PAHO Member States today include all 35 countries in the Americas. France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are Participating States. Portugal and Spain are Observer States, and Puerto Rico is an Associate Member.