Introduction

The vast majority of women and children in developing countries die from simple, preventable causes that can be addressed with proven, affordable and cost–effective solutions that most Canadians take for granted.

Canada is a world leader in promoting the health of women and children in developing countries and in reducing the unacceptable mortality rates that these vulnerable populations face each year. To this end, Canada is hosting Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm's Reach, an international Summit that will shape the future of Child and Maternal Health collaborations in Canada and around the world, from May 28–30, 2014, in Toronto.

In advance of the Summit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the themes, key participants, logo, and official website. He was then joined by key members of the Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health for a roundtable discussion.

The Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm's Reach Summit will bring together Canadian and international leaders and experts, Canadian charities, businesses, scientists, developed and developing countries, international organizations and global foundations to ensure that maternal, newborn and child health remains a priority of the global development agenda.

The Summit will focus on the following three themes:

• Delivering Results for Mothers and Children: Determining how, collectively, we have successfully delivered results and exploring how innovative technology and operating models are saving lives.
• Doing More Together Globally: Pushing new technologies and global partnerships to improve women's and children's health.
• Real Action for Women's and Children's Health: Identifying concrete steps that Canada and its partners will take to ensure that mortality rates drop, nutrition improves and more children live to see their fifth birthday.

The themes for the Summit were developed in consultation with key Canadian stakeholders active in global health along with international partners.

The Summit logo, which was created by the Government of Canada, represents the timeless and universal image of a mother embracing her child.

The official Summit website (www.canada.ca/MNCH) includes videos, photos, field stories and general information on actions to promote maternal, newborn and child health as well as a description of the Summit event. During the Summit, the website will include live–streaming and on–demand videos of many of the events. The website was developed by the Government of Canada and went public on April 28, 2014.

Prime Minister Harper chaired a roundtable with members of the Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health to discuss the important role played by Canadians in delivering results for women and children in developing countries. The Prime Minister and roundtable participants also discussed the importance of the upcoming Saving Every Woman, Every Child Summit, as an important and dynamic means towards reaffirming Canada's leadership in reigniting global efforts and building new momentum on improving women's and children's health, and demonstrating that continued commitment to saving the world's most vulnerable remains Canada's top development priority.

Quick Facts

• Thanks to the Muskoka Initiative and subsequent global action, maternal mortality rates are declining and millions more children are celebrating their fifth birthday.
• There is solid international progress being made to address maternal, newborn and child health. The number of women who die each year during pregnancy or childbirth has dropped substantially – from 543,000 deaths in 1990 to 287,000 in 2010.
• The global number of deaths of children under the age of five has dropped significantly as well, from nearly 12 million in 1990 to 6.6 million in 2012.

Quotes

“Poor nutrition and preventable diseases continue to claim the lives of an unacceptable number of women, children and newborns, despite strong international efforts and progress. Through this Summit and our ongoing engagement and support, Canada will help to ensure that the world continues to focus on these critical issues.”

– Prime Minister Stephen Harper

 

“No mother should have to choose between herself and her baby because she doesn't have the healthcare or food she needs to raise a healthy child. The Summit will chart the way forward for the next phase of international efforts to address maternal, newborn and child health.”

– Prime Minister Stephen Harper

 

“Through Canadian leadership and the support of thousands of Canadians across the country these last 4 years, we can say without hesitation that thousands of mothers and millions of children are alive today who would not have been but for our collective and dedicated efforts.”

– Rosemary McCarney, Co–Chair, Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health