A promise renewed to save children’s lives
Geneva, 16 June 2012 – . Governments and a multitude of partners from the private sector, civil society, and faith-based organizations gathered on 14-15 June at the Child Survival Call to Action – a high-level forum convened by the governments of Ethiopia, India and the United States, in collaboration with UNICEF, to launch a sustained, global effort to save children’s lives.
At the meeting, governments and partners pledged their support for A Promise Renewed, a pledge to accelerate declines in maternal and child mortality and a commitment to work together on sharpening national plans for child survival, monitoring results, and focusing greater attention on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children. The Call to Action challenges the world to reduce child mortality to 20 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births in every country by 2035. Reaching this historic target will save an additional 45 million children’s lives by 2035, bringing the world closer to the ultimate goal of ending preventable child deaths.
Over the past 40 years, new vaccines, improved health care practices, better trained health personnel, investments in education, and the dedication of governments, civil society and other partners have contributed to reducing the number of child deaths by more than 50 per cent. The Alliance urges members and partners of the health community to step up efforts to address the issues of access, training, and deployment of health personnel which will accelerate decline in maternal and child mortality.
The Child Survival Call to Action also saw the launch of Building a Future for Women and Children: The 2012 Report, by Countdown to 2015, to which the Alliance was a contributing author.
