KAMPALA, Uganda (July 25, 2010) — Save the Children urges African leaders to recognize that investing in maternal and child health is critical to development — including economic development — in their countries.

In a debate on maternal and child health care held at the 15th African Union Summit Monday night, South African singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka called on African leaders to prioritize maternal and child health care.

In his response, the Summit's host, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni appeared to suggest that investments to help expand the economy had to come before what he called "social expenditures."

However, basic health services for maternal, newborn, and child are in fact a very smart investment in any nation's economy, according to Save the Children and many economic and health experts. Health economists have shown that maternal mortality is a major economic drag. One study put the annual productivity losses at $15 billion worldwide.

According to Save the Children's Africa Advocacy Advisor Chikezie Anyanwu: "Investing in the health of mothers and children is an investment in the development and future of Africa. If mothers die in childbirth, they cannot be productive. If children don't get a healthy start in life, research shows they won't do as well in school, earn as much, or reach their full potential to support their country's development."

The vast majority of Africa's annual 4.5 million newborn and child deaths and 265,000 maternal deaths are preventable. The key solutions are providing prenatal and postnatal care, skilled attendance at birth (to prevent complications during and after delivery for mothers and newborns) and very low-cost, proven preventive measures and treatments for the other major child killers: pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria.

Said Anyanwu: "It doesn't take a vast amount of resources to make a major difference. Consider how the very poor country of Malawi has been able to dramatically reduce child deaths in recent years."

He continued: "It's not a matter of resources; it's a matter of political will. We urge all African leaders to demonstrate that will for the sake of mothers, children, and their countries' future."

African heads of state are expected to issue their final declaration Tuesday to end the 15th African Union Summit, which is themed "Maternal, Infant, and Child Health and Development in Africa."

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