"I have learned that it is mothers who keep families together -- indeed, who keep entire societies intact. Mothers are society's weavers... no woman should have to pay with her life for giving life," proclaimed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier this year.
Paying the ultimate price of life to deliver the ultimate gift to humanity -- the promise and hope of a newborn child -- is both "shocking and shameful" in the words of British Prime Minister David Cameron. With 3,500 participants from nearly 150 countries attending the Women Deliver Conference earlier this month in Washington, "we have the world's attention," declared Melinda Gates in her keynote address. "Now, the world is changing."
Announcing a new $1.5-billion commitment from the Gates Foundation over the next five years to support maternal and child health, family planning, and nutrition programs in developing countries, Gates has sparked a firestorm to encourage industrialized G8 nations convening this week in Canada to renew their commitments to maternal and child health worldwide.
The number of global maternal deaths in 2008 was down 35 per cent from 1980. Deaths among children under five have decreased from 16 million in 1970, to 11.9 million in 1990, to 7.7 million in 2010.
Despite such progress, every day, nearly 1,000 women and 22,000 children under five will die in a world where most of these deaths are entirely preventable through proven, cost-effective interventions -- including improved maternal education, children's immunization initiatives, and access to contraception.
The Guttmacher Institute and the United Nations Population Fund estimate that ensuring access to modern contraception to those who don't have it could prevent up to a third of maternal deaths.
This is not a question of investing in research and development -- we know what works, and we have examples to prove it. Rather, this is a matter of execution, will and investment. For the woman and children in need, this is a matter of life and death.
Therefore, at this week's G8 and G20 summits, it is imperative we connect this global momentum with political courage, and financial investment with evidence-based strategies. In short, we simply must act now.
With the 2015 deadline of reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) inching ever so close, we have little time to ramp up our efforts internationally.
Grounded in the fundamental principle of health as a human right, improving access to quality obstetric care -- including access to technologies and techniques to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, which affect 400,000 babies born each year in Africa -- improves maternal health, reduces child mortality and advances women in society by promoting equal access to healthcare.
The financial commitment advocates seek is truly minimal, and would yield extraordinary returns for families, communities, societies and nations around the world. Doubling current spending on women's health -- on family planning and pregnancy-related care together -- from the current $12 billion to $24 billion annually would reduce maternal deaths by 70 per cent, cut newborn deaths by nearly half, and increase productivity and economic growth. In hard figures, doubling the global investment would save the lives of a quarter-million women, and the lives of nearly four million children.
In comparison to the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on bank bailouts, and the hundreds of billions of dollars spent annually on military expenditures, we have no excuse not to find the $12 billion we need.
Every single one of us was given life by a woman; indeed, hundreds of thousands of our children are losing their mothers in the process. This is simply unacceptable. We know how to save these lives. At this G8 Summit, it's time we started to put an end to maternal, newborn and infant mortality.
Originally Published in the Ottawa Citizen
For more articles by Rahim Kanani, click here.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.