The health ministry has announced that India will host the global Call to Action Summit 2015 on Aug 27 – 28 in New Delhi. The main objective is to end the preventable child and maternal deaths. The summit will be co-hosted with the health ministry of Ethiopia and in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Tata Trusts, UNICEF, USAID and WHO.
The summit will be a platform for 24 nations and the summit partners to deliberate upon the importance of systems, partnerships, innovations, convergence and evidence in ending all preventable maternal and child deaths.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reached their deadline in December 2015 and ending preventable child and maternal deaths are two goals many countries in the world were unable to meet.
What are the Millennium Development Goals?
1. Eradicate Exreme Hunger and Poverty
2. Achieve Univesal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases.
7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability
8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development.
Child and Maternal Deaths
- Every year more than half a million women die of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and almost 4 million new-borns die within 28 days of birth.
- In terms of numbers India has largest number of child deaths (approximately 15.8 lakh) under the age of five years than any other country.
- About 140,000 to 150,000 maternal deaths can be prevented worldwide through efficient family planning (FP) measures.
- Most women who deliver in public health facilities are discharged within 4-6 hours of delivery due to high work load or lack of space.
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What is the Maternal Mortality Ratio?
What is Infant Mortality Rate?
