The 6th Annual G8 Global Parliamentarians Summit was held on 10-11 June 2010 in Ottawa, Canada. The meeting gathered together 100 parliamentarians from around 50 countries representing G8 and G20 nations to discuss the issue of maternal health - MDG5. At the end of a highly interactive two-day conference, the law-makers adopted a strong parliamentary appeal which - as previous years - will be fed into the G8 process and presented to the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, host of the Muskoka G8 Heads of State Summit scheduled for 25-26 June. The appeal urged donor governments to meet the international targets of 0.7 GNI for development assistance, devoting a significant portion of this funding to maternal and reproductive health, including family planning. It also called for a creation of an international funding mechanism specifically for MDG5, urged developing countries to ensure equity of access to quality health care services and availability of family planning, while ensuring transparency in the use of the development assistance. During the two day summit, parliamentarians from around the world were unanimous in their message to the G8/G20 Heads of State and Governments, "No Woman should lose her life in the act of bringing a new life into the world". The conference was organized and hosted by the Canadian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (CAPPD).
The Sherpa of the Muskoka Heads of State Summit, Mr. Leonard Edwards, Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada, hosted a luncheon for the parliamentarians and assured the lawmakers that his government was committed to the issue of maternal health. Many parliamentarians took to the floor emphasizing the important role of governments in intensifying efforts to reduce maternal deaths by supporting provisions for family planning. UNFPA's Jaqueline Mahon, Technical Advisor for Global Health made the opening remarks in the session entitled, "Making the MDGs Relevant to the G8/G20 Heads of State".
Global Parliamentarians Summit Calls for Funding to Maternal and Reproductive Health
June 22nd, 2010
Entry Comments
Funding for women health with focus on reduction in maternal mortality should be exclusively for Maternal and newborn care.This funding should not be part of Primary Health Care, with experiece we learnt that funding for MCH as part of PHC have no positive impact on maternal health status.