WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2009) — Improved health care for millions of African mothers and their young children received a global boost this week as advocates for children worldwide called on G-8 leaders to make maternal and child survival in Africa a top priority at their summit meeting in Italy next month. (Read a PDF of Save the Children's briefing memo to G8 leaders.)

On Tuesday, to commemorate the Day of the African Child, African leaders, international health activists and Members of Congress in Washington, D.C. joined advocates for children in Canada, Europe, and 13 African countries in a global show of support for increased resources to lower child and maternal mortality rates in Africa. The Global Health Council and the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival joined the African Union and Save the Children in sponsoring two events on Capitol Hill.

At one of the events, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) and former GOP Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist called on Congress to increase current U.S. funding to support cost-effective solutions to help improve the chances of African children surviving the first five years of life. Read Dr. Bill Frist in The Washington Times on saving the lives of African children.

At an earlier event, three African ambassadors to the United States — Amina Salum Ali, from the African Union, Hawa Ndilowe, from Malawi, and Abdoulaye Diop, from Mali — cited recent successes in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce newborn and child death rates and urged donor nations for additional support to help meet the global goal of reducing child mortality rates by two-thirds by 2015.

Ambassador Amina Salum Ali made a strong appeal to the U.S. Congress, the Obama Administration, foundations, universities and nongovernmental organizations "to continue your precious support to Africa to reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality." The same day, House Foreign Affairs Africa and Global Health Sub-committee Chairman Payne (D-NJ) and Ranking Republican Member Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced a resolution on the Day of the African Child, saluting the health professionals and community health workers on the front lines saving lives in Africa and reaffirming the importance of U.S. partnership with African leaders and communities in reducing maternal, newborn and child survival.

Model and activist Liya Kebede with Charles MacCormack on Capitol Hill.

An estimated 4.5 million children under 5 die each year in Africa, including more than 1 million who do not survive the first 28 days of life, according to a new briefing paper on child survival issued by Save the Children. Most of these deaths in Africa are due to preventable and treatable causes that rarely claim the lives of children in the world's richest countries, the report noted.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, in 13 African countries, Save the Children worked in partnership with national governments, civil society groups and a wide range of international and national nongovernmental organizations to hold activities that focused on increasing awareness of the issues of newborn and child survival. 

In Ethiopia, Olympic gold medal winner Meseret Defar helped celebrate the country's recent gains in child survival in an event in Addis Ababa. In Liberia, hundreds of children and family members marched in support of children's health programs. In Nigeria and Sierra Leone, radio talk shows focused on child survival throughout the day.

Success in the Fight Against Under-5 Mortality

Save the Children also has released a new policy report, Briefing for the Day of the African Child: Accelerated Action Towards Africa Fit for Children, that highlights recent success in reducing deaths among children under 5 in several African countries. Some examples: 

Amina Salum Ali, Hawa Ndilowe, Save the Children's Michael Klosson, Charles MacCormack and Dr. Bill Frist, and Gloria D. Steele of USAID.

• Botswana has reduced its under-5 mortality rate from 124 per 1,000 live births in 2005 to 40 in 2008 — saving over 4,000 children's lives a year
• Liberia as reduced its under-5 mortality rate from 235 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 110 in 2007 — saving over 23,000 children's lives a year
• Malawi has reduced its under-5 mortality rate from 210 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 111 in 2007 — saving over 60,000 children's lives a year

Despite progress, the report noted that an alarming 25 percent of all child deaths in Africa — more than 1 million a year — take place during the first 28 days of life.

Save the Children estimates that $1.3 billion a year in additional funding could save up to 800,000 newborn lives in Africa through a comprehensive package of proven health interventions for women and babies in the region.

"Death rates among newborns remain so high in Africa that parents in many communities postpone naming their newborn for a month or more until they are certain the child will survive infancy," said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children.

"Most of these deaths could be prevented by ensuring access to basic low-cost services such as immunization, skilled care at delivery and basic care of the newborn, including breastfeeding, and early treatment of infections," he said.

"Throughout the developing world, and especially in Africa, the most dangerous day in a child's life is the day a child is born," MacCormack said. "We must do more to save these lives."

MacCormack called on world leaders attending next month's G-8 meeting to help African countries meet their goal of cutting by two-thirds the number of children who die before their fifth birthday.

"During this financial crisis, the world's poorest families risk being left on the sidelines. But when the solutions that save children's lives are so proven and affordable, this is exactly the kind of investment that African leaders, and leaders of the richest nations, must prioritize," MacCormack said.

Read the Briefing for the Day of the African Child, (PDF) and find out what progress has been made and what more needs to be done.

Read remarks from Her Excellency Ambassador Amina S. Ali, of the African Union. on the Day of the African Child (PDF)

Read remarks from Her Excellency Ambassador Ndilowe of Malawi on the Day of the African Child (PDF)

Learn more about Save the Children's programs in Africa.

Save the Children is the leading independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 27 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 120 countries. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.