Ban lauds Bangladesh’s progress on women’s and children’s health

(N0vember 17, 2011) The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday spotlighted the progress made by Bangladesh in advancing women’s and children’s health, lauding the South Asian nation for its efforts to end the tragedy of millions of needless deaths. Last year Mr. Ban launched the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, which has received the support of many developing countries, including Bangladesh. The strategy is supported by Every Woman Every Child, a global effort to mobilize and intensify global action to save the lives of 16 million women and children and improve the lives of millions more. “Bangladesh showed its vision early on,” Mr. Ban noted at a dinner held in the capital, Dhaka, in support of the initiative, adding that the Government met the challenge with ambitious plans. These included bolstering the health workforce, doubling the number of babies who are born with the supervision of a skilled health worker, and making sure that all health centres in all sub-districts have a midwife available at all times, day or night. This dedication paid off, said Mr. Ban, noting that Bangladesh is one of only 16 countries on track to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to cut the deaths of mothers and children. “Bangladesh is proof that governments have to set the stage for effective health care,” he stated. “But the private sector and civil society have to help deliver it.” the Secretary-General also visited a community health clinic in the north-east of Bangladesh to spotlight the importance of ensuring access to women’s health care in rural areas.