Today, Canada announced a decision to save millions of lives. The Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (CAN-MNCH), comprised of 70 organizations, applauds the Canadian Government’s announcement of an historic financial contribution of $3.5 billion towards improving maternal, newborn and child health around the world from 2015-2020. This monumental contribution will support interventions around the world that are targeted at the hardest to reach women and children in marginalized communities.
Canada has been a longstanding leader in global health. In 2010, Canada launched the Muskoka Initiative, which rallied world leaders to contribute over $7 billion to improve maternal, newborn and child health. Again the government has rallied the world, this time assembled in Toronto from May 28-30 2014, at the Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm’s Reach Summit.
Dorothy Shaw, co-chair of the Network, states, “Today’s announcement of renewed funding shows the world that Canada is committed to continuing its leadership role. This reflects a wise Canadian investment, and the values of millions of Canadians who support this effort and truly care about women and children around the world. Because of these Canadian values and leadership, more lives are being saved than ever before.”
With this renewed funding, Canada must take our impact a step further: we must roll up our sleeves and accelerate our efforts, scaling up cost-effective, proven solutions to reach the poorest and most vulnerable women and children.
The Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health urges global players to follow Canada’s lead and renew funding post-2015. We need to push for maternal, newborn and child health to be at the heart of the post-2015 development agenda. If global leaders follow Canada’s example and step up their commitment, ending preventable deaths within a generation is within our reach.
