"Reach every country, district, woman with proven health interventions" - WHO Regional Director for Africa

Abuja, Nigeria, 7 April 2005 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo has appealed to Member States of the Organization to make every mother, newborn and child in the Region count, by scaling up proven health interventions to reach every country, district, woman, newborn and child. Dr. Sambo was delivering his message on the occasion of this year's World Health Day (WHD), which he celebrated in Nigeria in presence of the Minister of Health, representatives of partners and representatives of the civil society.

Such interventions, according to him, include the Road Map for accelerating the attainment of the MDGs relating to maternal and newborn health; the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness; oral rehydration therapy; iodized salt; Vitamin A supplements and breastfeeding as well as immunization.

Five years into the 21st century, African women risk death to give life, as one in every 16 women dies while giving life, with 20 to 30 women suffering reproductive disabilities throughout life. Similarly, 4 million babies are stillborn globally, majority in the African Region where 130 newborns die every hour of the day due to preventable causes and one in 6 young children die before they reach their fifth birthday.

Dr. Sambo, who said this silent emergency should not be allowed to continue, added that "maternal, newborn and child health is a priority of the World Health Organization in its efforts to support Member States to provide Health-for-All their peoples". He appealed for immediate action by all stakeholders, so that Africa does not miss achieving the Millennium Development targets.

The Regional Director also called for effective partnership, which he said can be achieved as governments, households, communities, civil society, private sector and development partners join forces to strengthen health systems, with maternal, newborn and child health at the core of their development strategies.

With an appeal to Member States to develop long-term health care financing schemes that facilitate universal coverage, Dr. Sambo also advocated for community-financing schemes that allow individuals, families and households to contribute to improved access to health care by mothers, newborns and children.

Dr. Sambo then admonished Member States to become investors in health. "It has been estimated that over the next 10 years, if we would scale-up to achieve coverage for maternal health alone, we will save at least 500,000 women's lives, avert 10 million disabilities and save 1.5 million children's lives", he added. This, according to him, would translate to productivity gains of at least US$10 billion.

For more information, please contact 
Austine Oghide, WHO, UN House, Diplomatic Zone, Central Area District, Abuja. 
Tel: 08034022390. 
Email: oghidea [at] who-nigeria.org (oghidea[at]who-nigeria[dot]org)