31 January 2013 – The United Nations-convened high-level meeting on saving the lives of mothers and children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region concluded yesterday after countries agreed to urgently accelerate progress on improving maternal and child health between now and the end of 2015. Delegates also committed to reducing the gap between current funding levels and those required if the Region is to meet Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 on reducing maternal and child mortality.
The Eastern Mediterranean Region is a young region where children up to 18 years old constitute more than 40% of the population (244 million children). Under-five children represent 12% (73 million children) of the regional population and women of childbearing age 29%. Both children under five and women are highly vulnerable groups for which two specific Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 4 and 5 respectively, and indicators under other MDGs have been set to highlight their role in country development.
Maternal and child health are at the core of the Alma-Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care that has been reaffirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Both are the subject of the United Nations Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health. They are also the focus of recommendations of the United Nations Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health, and UNICEF’s commitment to child survival in ‘A Promise Renewed,’ and several resolutions of the World Health Assembly and WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean.
