The Globe and Mail wrote a terrific editorial on the current issues around Canada’s involvement in in incorporating maternal health at the G8 Summit. As the article says:
“Canada has expressed a desire to champion the issue of maternal, reproductive and child health at the G8 summit.
So it is strange in the extreme that the country has yet to respond to an invitation to attend a global conference on the subject, to be held June 7-9, in Washington, just weeks before the G8 gathering.”
Jill Sheffield, president of Women Deliver, met with the editorial board of The Globe and Mail to discuss maternal health and family planning. As the article goes on to say, “Many [maternal] deaths can be prevented by simple, cost-effective measures. These include: making contraceptives more widely available; improving access to treatment for HIV/AIDS; and improving care before, during and after childbirth, says Jill Sheffield, president and founder of Women Deliver. She spoke yesterday to the standing committee on the status of women in Ottawa, urging Canada to take a leadership role.”
Please read the full article at The Globe and Mail, and let us know your thoughts. Should Canada send Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, or Bev Oda, Minister of International Co-operation, to the meeting to underscore the priority it places on the issue?
Entry Comments
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has put maternal health “front and center” at the upcoming G8/G20 summit; consequently, he should attend this important Washington meeting.
Mr. Harper has appropriately brought needed attention to an extremely important issue. The majority of maternal deaths are not only preventable, each one impacts on the woman’s family in direct and dramatic ways - children, especially girls are less likely to go to school, and mortality rates are higher among the children of deceased moms than children whose mothers are alive. The highest maternal mortality risks occur in the poorest countries, which are often also fragile and insecure states - the potential for family disintegration following a mothers death can only add to the state’s fragility. Strong Canadian presence in the form of high ranking decision makers is essential. As a fellow Canadian: Canada – way to go for increasing attention to this extremely important public health issue! and now please keep the spotlight on it by attending the WD conference!