December 11, 2012 - Today, the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation, announced that the Government of Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will be establishing a strategic partnership with Grand Challenges Canada to find innovative solutions to global health challenges, particularly those related to the millions of preventable deaths each year of children and mothers around the world.
"Innovation in global health is a critical piece of the development puzzle," said Minister Fantino. "Grand Challenges Canada is the perfect example of an organization that thinks outside the box to find solutions to current development challenges in maternal, newborn and child health."
In a changing development context, CIDA is engaging Canadians, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations to come up with innovative ideas to solve persistent challenges worldwide.
"Health-related issues are one of the biggest challenges in international development," emphasized Minister Fantino. "While the world has made progress in addressing many global health challenges, the fact remains that health-related issues continue to be a significant impediment to meaningful progress in developing countries. More needs to be done, and CIDA will collaborate with Grand Challenges Canada to spur innovation and build on best practices to further improve health results in developing countries."
The partnership with Grand Challenges Canada will provide CIDA with the opportunity to leverage innovative approaches to enhance its work to improve mother, newborn, and child health in developing countries. As host of the 2010 G-8 Summit in Muskoka, Prime Minister Stephen Harper launched thematernal, newborn, and child health initiative, which aims to save millions of mothers, infants, and children from preventable deaths.
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For more information, media should contact:
Daniel Bezalel Richardsen
Press Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Email: danielbezalel.richardsen@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
Email: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @CIDA_CA
