- Event:
- Start:
- End:
- Category:
- Updated:
-
Address:
A Promise to Keep will energize the global fight to end preventable child deaths through targeted investments in effective, life-saving interventions for children. Kicked-off at the Call to Action on June 14-15 in Washington, DC, A Promise to Keep will mobilize collective action and mutual accountability among a coalition of partners from government, multilateral agencies, the faith community, private sector and civil society.
Over the past 50 years, child mortality has dropped by 70% world-wide. In the past two decades alone child deaths have fallen dramatically, plummeting from 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2010. This rapid progress is largely due to high-impact interventions and tools for child survival, notably new vaccines and improved health care practices. However, progress continues to elude many children. In rich and poor countries alike, the poorest and most disadvantaged children continue to miss out on life-saving interventions. The sobering fact that far too many women and children continued to die from preventable diseases provided the impetus for the Secretary-General’s “Every Woman Every Child” strategy, an initiative launched in 2010 to reduce maternal and child mortality world-wide.
IFRC’s contribution to “A Promise to Keep: Global Child Survival Call to Action”
- Through their status as independent auxiliaries to government, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies support the implementation of national health priorities with a focus on ensuring the poorest and most disadvantaged children and mothers are able access life- saving interventions. Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers extend health services beyond the health facility door through innovative operational models that are costs effective and sustainable.
- As the worlds largest humanitarian organization Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies are uniquely positioned from community to district to national to global level to mobilize the political will needed to ensure the world’s commitment to child survival and women’s health. This is realized through a 13 million strong volunteer base who as members of their own communities, are familiar with their environments and know how best to bridge the existing gaps and/or social and cultural barriers.
Day One of the forum will convene Ministers of Health, Finance and Development, as well as decision makers and thought-leaders from multilateral agencies, civil society, the faith community, academia and industry to celebrate successes, understand obstacles and identify high-impact child survival strategies necessary to accelerate progress toward ending preventable child deaths.
Day Two will bring together technical experts and thought leaders working in nutrition, malaria, PMTCT, maternal and newborn health, family planning and immunization, among other areas critical to child survival. These experts will work across their fields to identify the strategies and smart investments to fight preventable child deaths.
