Reproductive Health Activists Call on G-8 For More Funding [Part 2 of 5] | Voice of America - English
A partnership of NGOs, governments, and UN agencies is calling on G-8 leaders to provide more funding to help reduce death rates among pregnant women and infants in the developing world.  The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health is asking for US$10 billion to meet previous commitments to global health. The partnership is also asking for new long-term financing. Experts say an increase in funding could prevent at least six million mother and child deaths every year.
A total of some US$1 billion peryear would be needed to improve services in the African continent alone. Purnima Mane is a top official with the United NationsPopulation Fund (UNFPA:) "The expectation that I have is that national governmentswill increase their own budgets to these areas because unless you put up yourown budgets ? no donor is going to be interested to put money. Secondly, I hopethat some of the donors [will increase their contributions]. ? I know that someof the donors have already [done so, including] Norway, Canada, to mention afew, have already put in extra funding this year and given more money to theseareas. And it's not like they're talking - they're giving." Mane says international funding must also be distributedevenly, "For example, there is hardly any money going towards family planning.And good family planning actually contributes to better maternal health becausewomen have less children, they plan their babies -- they're much more wanted,women's bodies are in better shape. In fact there is a decrease in funding infamily planning. That's a disturbing trend!" Other concerns focus on who will manage the programs. Intheory, local and national governments direct how the money should be spent,but some political leaders, like Saudatu Sani, say that's not always thecase. Sani is a parliamentarian fromNigeria, "Donors come with their pack and they come with conditionsand I think that is unacceptable. If you want to help Nigeria or any country,come and buy into our program. Because I know what is happening to myconstituency, I know what is happening to my country, I know what is myproblem. But don't tell me where to sit a project or put $2 billion dollars. Soreally it's outrageous it's unacceptable ? we are not beggars ? this is apartnership. We are not saying bring your money and then put conditions on it.No. If you want to bring your money come, but bring your money to where I needit, not where you think [you] should put it." According to the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and child health,some countries have begun to reduce their newborn and child death rates.Despite lower per capita income, six countries ? Eritrea, Malawi, Burkina Fuso,Madagascar, Tanzania and Uganda ? have reduced the death rates of newborns tobetween 24 and 32 per 1000 births. Tanzania has reduced its child mortality rates by 30% anddecreased newborn deaths by 20% over the past five years. Tanzania's government -- especially itshealth minister -- is credited with the improvement. They established localbudget priorities and increased government spending on essential maternal andchild health care. Health experts say others are moving to protectpoor families from rising health care costs. Zambia has abolished user fees,while Burundi now has ended fees for childbirth care and for the care forchildren under five. Experts say they hope moves like these will help Africareach the UN's Millennium Development Goals calling for cutting the rate ofchild and maternal mortality by 2015.