Ban readies campaign to combat maternal mortality worldwide

(April 15,2010) With hundreds of thousands of women and girls dying in pregnancy or childbirth every year, and 10 to 15 million more suffering long-lasting disabilities, the United Nations on Wed. outlined steps for a multi-pronged campaign to fight the scourge. Calling for urgent and strategic efforts, the Joint Action Plan will urge all stakeholders, developed and developing countries, civil society, philanthropic institutions and others, to offer new initiatives and adopt an accountability framework, that will keep maternal and child health high on the national and international development agenda.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said :“The fact remains that one preventable maternal death is too many, and hundreds of thousands are simply unacceptable in the 21st century. He said “It has been 10 years since the launch of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) “We are making great strides in some areas. In some countries maternal deaths are declining. But progress on maternal health is still lagging far behind. He said “a health system that delivers for mothers will deliver for the whole community. But, first, we must deliver.”