UK Parliament report highlights maternal deaths
03 March 2008
Geneva, 3 March 2008 - Members of the UK Parliament issued a wide ranging report on global maternal health in London yesterday. The report by the House of Commons International Development Committee was released on Mothers’ Day in the UK.
In launching the report, Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP, Chairman of the Committee, said "A lack of political will to improve maternal health in developing countries has contributed to a stark contrast in the experiences of childbirth around the world: for every woman who dies in childbirth in the UK, up to 1000 die in the poorest countries."
"The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health commends the UK Parliament for its leadership in issuing a powerful report on maternal health" said Dr Francisco Songane, Director of the Partnership, in a comment following the launch.
"In 2008 we have a crucial set of opportunities - including the upcoming G8 to be hosted by Japan - where political leaders can demonstrate their commitment to strengthen health services for women, newborns and children within a continuum of care. We call on the Government of the UK and DFID to retain and enhance their position as global champions at this critical time" the Director of the Partnership added.
Dr Songane was one of the witnesses who provided testimony to the Parliamentary Inquiry during its hearings in the fall of 2007. The main purpose of the inquiry was to examine how donors - particularly DFID, the UK Department for International Development - can support progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5, which seeks a reduction by three-quarters in the level of maternal mortality worldwide and universal access to reproductive health by 2015.