November 21, 2012
The editorial, Step up to help most vulnerable (SP, Nov. 16), fails to highlight Canada's commitment to promote the health of women, newborn, and children. We are focused on saving lives and achieving results for those most in need.
Canada has led the way through our initiative for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, garnering support among the G-8, other key donors, and private foundations to reduce the mortality rates of mothers and their children. We collectively raised nearly $7.3 billion for critical, life-saving assistance for those most in need. Canada has pledged $2.85 billion in resources to significantly reduce preventable deaths among mothers and children.
These investments are getting results Canadians can be proud of.
For example, in Afghanistan, we have trained more than 1,455 health workers and 7.8 million children are receiving polio vaccinations. In Tanzania, six-million women will benefit from antenatal care and delivery services, two million pregnant women will benefit from malaria prevention, and more than 400,000 pregnant women will receive treatment to prevent the mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Canada's plan doesn't earmark money for each specific activity but supports an integrated approach to funding maternal, newborn and child health, including the provision of family planning information and services. This comprehensive approach provides integrated services at local levels that women can access readily.
The editorial simply points to hot-button issues and overlooks these facts. This does a disservice to Canadians in understanding this important global issue. Our government won't trivialize the basic health and wellbeing of young mothers and children. We were clear when we created the initiative that we will focus on a plan that unites Canadians and delivers tangible results for those most in need.
Julian Fantino
Ministre de la Coopération internationale
