Work to finalize MCH acceleration plans towards MDG 4 and 5 moved a step further in a meeting in Cairo on 17 to 19 June 2013. This work was part of the regional initiative on saving the lives of mothers and children to accelerate progress towards reduction of maternal and child deaths in the Region, launched at the High-level meeting held in Dubai, 29–30 January 2013. The initiative includes 10 countries, namely Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen.
In the Dubai Declaration at the High-level meeting, ministers of health and delegates of countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, representatives of United Nations agencies and international, regional and national institutions committed among others to develop, launch and execute a national plan for maternal and child health with clear coverage targets.
In line with this commitment, countries established national task forces including representatives of ministries of health and the three UN agencies which have launched the initiative—namely WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA—and started work to develop their acceleration plans.
Plans focus on intensifying efforts in selected areas in each country which have higher mortality and lower coverage of cost-effective interventions, to reduce inequity and maximize impact. The UN agencies and national teams held video- and telephone-conferences and meetings and exchanged comments to support and follow up the process.
National programme managers from 6 of the 10 priority countries which are the focus of the initiative and technical partners participated in the meeting in Cairo, such as staff from the regional offices of WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and from WHO/HQ.
All countries were able to revise their plans during the meeting, with technical support from the UN partners. As a result of this work, a close-to-final version was expected to be ready for review by 27 June 2013.
It was envisaged that the national plans, once finalized, would be officially launched in a high-level event in each country with a large representation of key stakeholders.
Links
Saving the lives of mothers and children: accelerating progress towards achieving MDGs 4 and 5 in the Region
Dubai Declaration
Work to finalize MCH acceleration plans towards MDG 4 and 5 moved a step further in a meeting in Cairo on 17 to 19 June 2013. This work was part of the regional initiative on saving the lives of mothers and children to accelerate progress towards reduction of maternal and child deaths in the Region, launched at the High-level meeting held in Dubai, 29–30 January 2013. The initiative includes 10 countries, namely Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen.
In the Dubai Declaration at the High-level meeting, ministers of health and delegates of countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, representatives of United Nations agencies and international, regional and national institutions committed among others to develop, launch and execute a national plan for maternal and child health with clear coverage targets.
In line with this commitment, countries established national task forces including representatives of ministries of health and the three UN agencies which have launched the initiative—namely WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA—and started work to develop their acceleration plans.
Plans focus on intensifying efforts in selected areas in each country which have higher mortality and lower coverage of cost-effective interventions, to reduce inequity and maximize impact. The UN agencies and national teams held video- and telephone-conferences and meetings and exchanged comments to support and follow up the process.
National programme managers from 6 of the 10 priority countries which are the focus of the initiative and technical partners participated in the meeting in Cairo, such as staff from the regional offices of WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and from WHO/HQ.
All countries were able to revise their plans during the meeting, with technical support from the UN partners. As a result of this work, a close-to-final version was expected to be ready for review by 27 June 2013.
It was envisaged that the national plans, once finalized, would be officially launched in a high-level event in each country with a large representation of key stakeholders.
Links
Saving the lives of mothers and children: accelerating progress towards achieving MDGs 4 and 5 in the Region
Dubai Declaration
