Asserting that the goal of ending preventable child and maternal deaths by 2035 is well within reach, India has outlined six key actions, including gender equality, to accelerate efforts to achieve this goal.
Speaking at the meeting on ‘Acting on the Call: Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths’, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said the other actions include the power of belief, partnership, evidence, communication and untapped power in health financing and organization.In his keynote address, he called upon the global leaders on the urgent need to invest in girl child education to realise the goal of ending child and maternal deaths.
He asserted that it is collective responsibility to ensure that the investments and the benefits of development reach every mother and child, for creating a better future for the generations to come.“It is now evident that with the sustained efforts across the globe with a focus on equity, the goal of ending preventable child and maternal deaths by 2035 seems well within our reach,” Vardhan said.
The day-long event was organised by the USAID, India and Ethiopia in association with the Melinda and Gates Foundation. “By now, we are also certain about the investments which countries need to make to save the lives of 15 million children and almost 600,000 mothers by 2020,” he added.
Vardhan said a strong vision and leadership by Governments can make a critical contribution to further accelerate the momentum already in place to end preventable deaths.