Work with Key Canadian Partners is Delivering Real Results Where it Counts
October 4, 2013 - Beginning with the 2010 Muskoka Initiative, Canada has taken a leadership role in improving the lives of mothers, newborns and children in the world's poorest countries. Today, at a symposium hosted by the Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (CAN-MNCH), the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development, outlined the impact of Canada's leadership and underscored the need to continue to promote effective partnerships and innovative responses.
"Thanks in part to the leadership of Prime Minister Harper the world has turned its attention to improving the health of women, newborns and children in developing countries; and we have seen extraordinary reductions in maternal and child mortality rates as a result,” said Minister Paradis. "Despite these advances many challenges still exist. Our government will continue to work with our outstanding Canadian partners to ensure we remain accountable, transparent and focused on delivering concrete results for those in need.”
IMPACT 2025: Working Together for Global Maternal, Newborn & Child Health brings together close to 200 Canadian experts on maternal, newborn and child health to explore the successes, challenges and next steps for maintaining momentum and accelerating impact in improving the lives of the most vulnerable women and children.
"Canada continues to be a leader in the global effort to see that women and children do not die or suffer needlessly from preventable causes,” said Dr. Dorothy Shaw, Chair of CAN-MNCH, a federally funded coalition of almost 70 Canadian non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and health practitioners working abroad in women's and children's health. "Over the past few years, evidence is showing that investments in maternal and child health are having a tremendous impact – millions more women, newborns and children are surviving and thriving today than a decade ago. We are achieving lasting progress and we must stay the course.”
As a demonstration of Canada's leadership in addressing the health of women and children, Prime Minister Harper recently hosted a United Nations event on women's and children's health where he announced $203.55 million to increase immunization against diseases; improve the delivery of primary health care to women and children; reduce childbirth and pregnancy deaths; and increase the accountability of public spending.
Three years into Canada's five-year, $2.85 billion commitment to the G8 Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, which included $1.1 billion in new funding and maintaining ongoing spending of $1.75 billion, Canada is on target to deliver on its entire commitment with more than 60 percent of the funding already disbursed and making a real difference in countries where maternal and child mortality are high. Canada's focus is on ensuring access to better health services, addressing leading diseases and illnesses, and improving nutrition.
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Email: margaux.stastny@international.gc.ca
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