Sommaire: May 4, 2005: European Commission puts women's reproductive health and child rights at the heart of Development policy (Brussels)
The European Commission and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are hosting today an international conference on Women, Children and Newborn Health at the Albert Borschette Conference Centre in Brussels. By hosting this conference, the Commission intends to enhance the EU´s response to the unacceptable state of women's and children's health, particularly in Africa.
The European Commissioner for Development, Louis Michel, has identified women's reproductive and sexual health care and women's and children's rights as fundamental to accelerating progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
Commissioner Michel said: "Equal status for women and recognition of women's reproductive rights are central to development. Unless women can control their own fertility and have an equal status in society, their ability to protect their children will be limited. It is also morally unacceptable that every 30 seconds a child under five years dies in Africa from illnesses that can easily be treated."
The World Health Report launched on 9th April focused on maternal, newborn and child health and highlighted that each year pregnancy and childbirth claim the lives of half a million women, whilst more than 10 million children die from largely preventable or treatable causes, including 4 million newborns. In addition, more than 3 million babies are stillborn. "This report underlines in graphic terms the need to deliver now on the commitments on women's health and rights made in Beijing and
Cairo", said Commissioner Michel.
Governments, internationally, have already committed to reduce infant, child and maternal mortality when they endorsed the Millennium Development Goals. Now, the international donor community must act to meet these commitments.
The European Commission has recently agreed on a €25 million strategic partnership with the World Health Organisation, which includes support to strengthen national programmes for maternal and child health. The Commission and the WHO are committed to working together and with all major partners in the international community to press for accelerated progress on reducing maternal, neonatal and child mortality.
In his address to the participants at the Conference, Director General for Development, Stefano Manservisi, identified areas where Europe has played an important role in the past and must continue to play this role in future. "The European Commission is strongly committed to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and the MDGs and reaffirms the links between the MDGs and the health and rights of women and children", he said.
In Africa, the chances of a woman dying in pregnancy are 1 in 16, compared to 1 woman in 2800 dying as a result of pregnancy in wealthy countries. The European Commission recognises the special needs of Sub-Saharan Africa. The EC-WHO conference acknowledged that, without special attention, sub-Saharan Africa will not succeed in achieving the MDGs by 2015. The European Commission has expressed in its package of communications on progress towards the MDGs, aproved last month by the Commission and
to be discussed in Mya at the Council, its commitment to act on these needs by assigning political priority to Africa to accelerate progress in key areas. Increasing the percentage of Official Development Aid (ODA) to an EU average of 0,56% in 2010, to reach 0,7% in 2015, is a key element in these proposals and can make the difference for millions of people.
The European Commission's new development policy recognises that health services in developing countries are forced to operate within limited resources. The acute shortage of doctors, nurses and other health workers is limiting access to the skilled care necessary to reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality. In particular, we are working closely with the African Union and NEPAD how to Europe can support Africa to address this crisis.
More Info:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/theme/human_social/pol_health1_en.htm
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