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U.S. Senate Moves to Help Save Lives of Mothers and Children Worldwide
Washington, DC (May 9) – Senators Gordon Smith of Oregon and Chris Dodd of Connecticut today introduced new legislation to provide a national strategy and resources to reduce high death rates of mothers and children throughout the developing world.
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The action came following a new report by Save the Children estimating that about 2 million babies die within the first 24 hours of life and a total of 4 million die within the first month of life, mostly from causes that can be prevented or treated.
Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Chris Shays (R-CT) have introduced similar legislation in the House. The House bill is currently co-sponsored by an additional 38 members of the House of Representatives.
“It is tragic that many of the causes of child and infant mortality are preventable or treatable ailments,” said Senator Smith. “We can make some of the greatest gains by achieving the simplest goals. The reality is that it just requires the dedication of a lot of resources.”
"If these staggering and almost unfathomable numbers were associated with an earthquake or hurricane, they would prompt a worldwide and immediate reaction," said Dodd. "Each of these numbers represents a child and a life cut short. We can’t simply afford to idly sit by as this death toll climbs. This measure can help ensure that much greater attention and resources are committed to hopefully help alleviate this growing crisis."
Entitled the Child Health Investment for Long-term Development (CHILD and Newborn) Act, the legislation would do the following:
*Double current funding for child survival and maternal health initiatives and require the U.S/ government to develop an integrated strategy for improving child and maternal health, and to create an inter-agency task force (headed by USAID) responsible for its implementation.
*Establish guidelines for child survival programs, including building local capacity, collaborating with non-governmental organizations and local partners, focusing on the poorest, and coordinating with other donors.
*Require the administration to submit an annual report on efforts to promote child and maternal health globally, as well as an assessment of the US contribution toward achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
*Create a Child Survival Fund, the goal of which is to achieve significant reductions in mortality rates for mothers, newborns, and children under 5 years of age.
Save the Children estimates that 10 million children under the age of five die every year in the developing world including 4 million during the first month of life. For children under the age of five, preventable or treatable diseases such as measles, tetanus, diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria are the most common causes of death.
