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Canada Extends Commitment to Maternal, Child Health in Developing Countries |
| Source: |
xinhuanet.com |
| Source Date: |
Friday, May 30, 2014 |
| Focus: |
ICT for MDGs
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| Country: |
Canada |
| Created: |
Jun 16, 2014 |
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TORONTO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Canadian government has announced an extra 3.2 billion U.S. dollars for improving the health of mothers, children and newborns in the developing world.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the additional funding, for 2015 to 2020, here Thursday.
The commitment will build on the government's five-year 2.6-billion-dollar Muskoka initiative, launched at the 2010 G8 summit to reduce maternal and child deaths.
The announcement, made at a Toronto elementary school Thursday with Harper's wife Laureen, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Melinda Gates and International Development Minister Christian Paradis in attendance, will expand on that initiative. < Harper said the work done so far had made a big difference, pointing out two million deaths were prevented between 2010 and 2013 because more children had access to simple immunizations. But with that funding commitment set to expire next year, he said it was time to embark on the next phase.
"The world's commitment to the maternal, newborn and child health initiative will sunset next year, and we all know that our work is far from finished," he said in his speech. "This is good work, it is great work, it's work that's making a difference between life and death, and so I believe this work must not stop."
The funding will help target three specific areas: strengthening health systems, improving nutrition and reducing the burden of leading diseases. Harper said there would be more emphasis put on reaching children in the fragile first month of life, stepping up immunization efforts and building civil registration and vital statistics systems to improve accountability of results.
But none of that could be done without the help of other world leaders, he said.
"It is therefore our intention during the next 18 months to use every reasonable opportunity to persuade, and even to cajole our international partners. We want nothing less than to see governments and non-governmental organizations around the world join us in renewing their commitment in caring for the world's most vulnerable mothers and children," he said. "Because, as the last four years has shown us, we are stronger and more effective when we work together."
The announcement was made during the second day of a high-level summit on maternal, newborn and child health. Under the title "Saving Every Woman, Every Child: Within Arm's Reach," the three-day summit was held to help Canadian and international partners reach some tangible results on maternal and child health beyond 2015.
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Canada Extends Commitment to Maternal, Child Health in Developing Countries The Canadian government has announced an extra 3.2 billion U.S dollars for improving the health of mothers children and newborns in the developing world
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