This conference discussed the following points:
Across the globe, nearly 10 million children die before the age of five each year – that is one child every three seconds. Nearly four million die within their first 28 days (newborn deaths). Three million babies die within one week of birth, including up to 2 million who die on their first day of life.
An estimated 500,000 women also die each year as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Child and maternal mortality are inextricably linked.
Key points:
- How do we mainstream equity – what do we need to do to ensure that the poorest mothers and children can benefit from health, nutrition and broader interventions?
- In those countries which have been successful in cutting maternal, newborn and child survival rates, what have been the key factors that explain this progress?
- How do we make national governments more accountable for their performance on maternal, newborn and child survival?
- Of the existing international health initiatives which is the most promising in terms of securing real progress on maternal newborn and child survival?
