Devolin Column
February 26, 2010

Improving the health of women and infants worldwide

Late last month, many of the world's leaders and members of the international business community met at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. There, Canada set out its plans as President of the G-8 and Host of the G-20 Toronto Summit in June. 

In the past year, the G-20 has emerged as the world's most important forum for fiscal and economic cooperation. Its members include developed and developing nations. Previously, this responsibility belonged to a club of developed nations, the G-8. 

On a go-forward basis, the G-8 will continue to play an important role by focusing on security concerns and human welfare, because leaders of the world's most developed economies accept their responsibility to assist those most vulnerable. 

It is no secret that the world's poor have been hit hardest by the global economic downturn, and sadly, tragedy strikes all too frequently on those that can least afford it.

Each year, it is estimated that 500,000 women lose their lives during pregnancy or childbirth. Further, an astonishing nine million children die before their fifth birthday.

This is simply not acceptable. The United Nations had hoped to reduce the number of deaths related to pregnancy by 75 per cent by 2015 as part of its Millennium Development Goals. It now appears this target will go unfulfilled. What makes it worse is that the bulk of the deaths during pregnancy – experts claim as many as 80 per cent – are easily preventable. There is a pressing need for global action on maternal and child health. 

As President of the G-8 in 2010, Prime Minister Harper will champion a major initiative to improve the health of women and children in the world's poorest regions. 

The cost of clean water, inoculations and better nutrition, as well as the training of health workers to care for women and deliver babies, is within the reach of any country in the G-8. Much the same could be said of child mortality. The solutions are similar in nature – better nutrition, immunization – and equally inexpensive in themselves.

As leaders of the most developed economies of the world, we have an obligation to assist those that are most vulnerable to hardship. Canada hopes members of the G-8 will rally together on this.