In his New York address on Wednesday United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon placed an emphasis on the initiative making childbirth safer. The benefits of the advances that made childbirth safe almost one hundred years ago have yet to reach women in many parts of the world. In some countries one woman in eight dies during childbirth and millions of children die from malnutrition and diseases that have been preventable for decades.
“These realities are simply unacceptable. The twenty-first century must be and will be different. It is time to turn the tide, time to right a historic wrong, time to deliver on the promise of health and a better future, for every woman, every child,” he said.
Through the expansion of access to basic health care, simple blood tests, doctor's advice, immunizations, and the presence of trained birth attendants the inequalities affecting women and children can be addressed.
The Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health provides a clear road map for making the fundamental difference in millions of lives. “Our strategy includes women’s empowerment,” he said, “Women must lead the way, because by empowering women we empower societies.”
Not satisfied with a piecemeal approach he calls for a broad partnership between governments, international organizations, business, researchers, philanthropists, health professionals and the civil society. “We all have a role to play and we must provide the resources.”
The investment in women's and children's health has a multiplier effect across the Millennium Development Goals (the Global Action Plan to reduce poverty) and the UN leader believes that this shall be “the most powerful investment for developing our economies, our communities and our societies.”
