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Business and world leaders call on gov’ts to invest in maternal health

Prime minister Harper is dedicating $3.5 billion towards improving maternal health care in developing nations. Ahead of his funding announcement earlier today, Melinda Gates joined powerful business and world leaders to call on governments to invest in women and children’s health.
“If women can plan their families then they’re more likely to space their pregnancies. If women can space their pregnancies, they’re more likely to be healthy and so are their babies,” said Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Linking economic growth to lowered mortality rates, Melinda Gates spoke about the importance of maternal and child health.
“If we want flourishing societies tomorrow, we need to invest in mothers and children today,” she said.
The co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says since 1990, the number of children dying across the world has declined by 47 percent. Taking population growth into account, 17 million children would have otherwise died last year. Instead, that number is down to 6.6 million.
“That number is still way too high but when you think of that steady decline in progress, it’s really remarkable. And it is because of the investments that are being made,” she said.
Earlier in the day, the Aga Khan praised Canada’s leadership, but also highlighted the importance of long term investment in the health of women and children.
“Sporadic interventions produce sporadic results and each new burst of attention and activity must then start over again,” said the Aga Khan, chairman of the Aga Khan Development Chairman.
While progress has been made, Queen Rania Abdullah of Jordan says for millions of mothers around the globe, reaching milestones like their child’s first day of school is still a distant dream.
“Everyday, 18 thousand children under five die from causes we can prevent,” she said. “These figures are more than just a source of discontent. They’re an outrage, an injustice and they have no place in our common humanity.”
Calling for support for the soon-to-be-launched Every New Born Action Plan, Queen Rania says she hopes to help to change the births in developing countries from something to be feared to a cause for celebration.