{"id":52862,"date":"2010-04-28T21:27:09","date_gmt":"2010-04-28T21:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.org\/us\/?post_type=one_press&p=52862"},"modified":"2010-04-28T21:27:09","modified_gmt":"2010-04-28T21:27:09","slug":"one-calls-on-g8-to-produce-strong-child-maternal-health-action-plan","status":"publish","type":"one_press","link":"https:\/\/www.one.org\/us\/press\/one-calls-on-g8-to-produce-strong-child-maternal-health-action-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"ONE Calls on G8 to Produce Strong Child & Maternal Health Action Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington D.C.<\/strong> – As G8 Development Ministers leave Halifax, Nova Scotia today, global anti-poverty organization ONE called the development meeting “productive but must follow up in June with a clear, tangible action plan to improve child and maternal health.” Emphasizing the need for a plan, Canadian ONE member Jana Henderson today personally delivered a petition, signed by 10,191 ONE members, to Development Minster Bev Oda asking for a results-based, time-bound plan come out of this week’s meeting.<\/p>\n

“It is encouraging that the G8 Development Ministers will leave Halifax to advise world leaders on targeted initiatives to address child and maternal health.” said Olly Buston, ONE’s European Director. <\/strong>“Though light on details, this meeting will hopefully set the table for robust, specific, and coordinated commitments to be made in June.”<\/p>\n

“Real progress happens with real commitments,” said Buston<\/strong>. “To effectively improve child and maternal health as well as other poverty-fighting measures, the G8 cannot simply issue a feel good consensus statement but must make concrete commitments to ensure that all are held accountable in delivering smart, effective assistance. With Canada’s leadership and public commitment to this issue, 2010 can be the year when the G8 finally takes action.”<\/p>\n

Despite substantial improvements in global health in recent years, progress on maternal and child health is still far from where it should be. The G8 Muskoka Summit is an important time for these issues to be highlighted, as global leaders will meet at the United Nations in September to review progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). With MDGs on maternal and child health being some of the most off-track, a robust plan from the G8 on this issue could galvanize the international community.<\/p>\n

In line with Canadian Development Minister Bev Oda’s goals for the Halifax meeting, including reaching a consensus on a G8 child and maternal health initiative in an effective, sustainable and accountable fashion, ONE is outlining its recommendations to the G8 in the lead up to their meeting in Huntsville, Ontario in June 2010. In order to effectively make a substantial difference in the lives of families in the world’s poorest regions, the G8’s action strategy should:<\/p>\n