2010 Top stories, features and spotlights
July - September 2010
29 SEPTEMBER 2010 | GENEVA – A Side Event at the UN Commission on Human Rights - Health and Human Rights: the case of Maternal and Child Health – focused on “Health as Human Right” and advancing commitments on maternal and child health. The Event was also the venue for the introduction of a new maternal Initiative -- Women Create Life.
25 SEPTEMBER 2010 | GENEVA - The United Nations’ health agencies* have just released a new report - "Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2008" – which shows that global efforts to reduce maternal mortality are beginning to pay off. The data in this new Report shows significant progress in the reduction of the number of women dying due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, with a decrease of 34% from some 550 000 estimated deaths in 1990 to around 350 000 in 2008. And this new hopeful report strengthens our resolve to improve women's health and make their health a priority in the world.
22 SEPTEMBER 2010 / UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK -Today's launch of the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health at the MDG Summit in New York is a moment for celebration for us all. [...] Today's announcement of more than $40 billion in commitments to the Global Strategy reminds us how much progress we can make when we put our shoulder to the wheel. We're not there yet, but we're finally on the road and we're picking up speed.
22 SEPTEMBER 2010 | NEW YORK – Culminating a global summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Heads of State and Government, along with private sector, foundations, international organizations, civil society and research organizations, kicked off a concerted world-wide effort to save the lives of more than 16 million women and children. At a special UN event to launch the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, stakeholders pledged more than $40 billion in resources.
AUGUST 2010 | GENEVA - Dr Flavia Bustreo, Director of The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, has been appointed Assistant Director-General for the Family and Community Health cluster of the World Health Organization. "Dr Bustreo has been a tremendous asset to The Partnership during her tenure," said Dr Julio Frenk, Chair of The Partnership and Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health. "Her vision, drive and leadership have brought The Partnership to new heights, and we look forward to an even stronger working relationship with WHO as a result of her appointment." The process to find a new Director for The Partnership is underway.
1 SEPTEMBER 2010 | LONDON 1 SEPTEMBER 2010 | LONDON –In collaboration with the UN Secretary General’s Office, the United Nations Foundation and the International Business Leaders Forum, PMNCH organized a special meeting to explore ways the private sector can contribute to supporting the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health. Family Care International, Save the Children, GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson& Johnson supported the organization of the event.
9-10 AUGUST 2010 | Santa Cruz, BOLIVIA - The fifth in a series of PMNCH workshops has brought health care professionals from nine countries in the Latin America region, including Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Chile and Brazil: 'The Role of Health Care Professionals in achieving MDGs 4 and 5'. The discussion focused on key issues impeding the improvement of the health of women and children in the region.
19-27 JULY 2010 | KAMPALA, UGANDA – Heads of state from Africa made strong commitments to saving mother’s and children’s lives at the African Union Summit held in Kampala this week. PMNCH Director Dr Flavia Bustreo strongly commended the African leaders’ actions: “This week’s declaration... was a decisive move forward for the health of women and girls”, said Dr Bustreo.
19 JULY 2010 | VIENNA –- Several of the world’s largest institutions critical to serving the needs of women and children are pledging their commitment to work jointly with the United Nations Secretary-General and others in a new global effort to save the lives of more than 10 million women and children.
16 JULY | BERN -- More than 20 women speakers of parliament gathered in the Swiss capital for a lively two-day meeting on the role of parliamentarians in taking action on maternal and child survival. PMNCH launched its new publication, co-published with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Taking the Lead: Parliamentarians Engage with Maternal, Newborn & Child Health.
1 JULY 2010 | ROME –The Italian Foreign Affairs Commission heard from The Partnership and its members to prioritize maternal, newborn and child health in its work to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Dr Flavia Busteo (PMNCH) joined with Dr Mario Mealdi, World Health Organization (RHR) and Dr Fancesco Aureli of Save the Children to address a special parliamentary Commission examining the progress to achieving the MDGs