L'Aquila , Itlay – The "Group of 8" (G8) gathered the world's most powerful heads of state in Italy in early July to discuss the world's most pressing problems, including action needed to improve maternal health.
For the first time last year, the G8 leaders included maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) in one of the outcome documents from the G8 summit - the Toyako Framework for Action on Global Health, with some of the specific actions to be taken to improve progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality. This year, the Declaration document goes further and calls for the "removal of barriers to access for all women and children" and "encourage(s) the work of the WHO, WB, UNICEF and UNFPA are doing to renew international efforts on maternal and child health." The document also announces "a global consensus on maternal, newborn and child health as a way to accelerate progress on the Millennium Development Goals for both maternal and child health through political and community leadership and engagement; a quality package of evidence-based interventions through effective health systems; the removal of barriers to access for all women and children, free at the point of use where countries chose to provide it; skilled health workers; accountability for results."
The Declaration also recognizes that MDGs 4 and 5 are the Millennium Development Goals which are most off track. However, specific funding solutions were not discussed by the leaders.
To read the highlights from the Declaration on maternal and newborn health, click here.
To read more G8 coverage, click here.