Global plan to cut newborn deaths launched

An action plan to cut newborn deaths worldwide has been launched at a global meeting to promote maternal and child health.

The plan, which is aimed at preventing the deaths of about 3 million babies every year, was launched during the opening session of the Partnership of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health, PMNCH, Partners forum, grouping policy makers, public health experts and activists from around the world.

“The world has made remarkable progress to improve health and expand opportunities over the past 14 years” said Graca Machel, the PMNCH Chair, “but there is still much to be done.” Machel opened the two-day high level meeting on Monday, August 11, in her first public appearance since the funeral of her husband, Nelson Mandela.

Delegates at the forum called on Governments, especially in Africa, to show greater commitment and responsibility in fighting maternal and child deaths, described as key for the success of any intervention.

Cameroon has committed to reducing maternal and child deaths through the creation of a national program “in a bid to significantly reduce maternal and newborn mortality over the next five years,” according to head of the Cameroon Programme for Combating Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality, Dr Martina Baye.

A 2014 report, also launched by Machel during the forum, which evaluates global progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health, shows Cameroon as having a long way to go.

The Countdown to 2015 Report puts current maternal deaths in Cameroon at 590 for every 100,000 live births, a far cry from the targeted 180 by 2015. However, this figure is an improvement from 720 back in 1990, the year the MDGs were introduced.

By the end of the forum, the over 800 delegates attending are expected to come up with strategies to promote maternal and child health after 2015 and also in the 500 days left before the mandate of the MDGs expires.

The PMNCH is a partnership of 625 organisations launched in 2005 and hosted by the World Health Organisation.