New International Health Partnership launched
Our Chief Executive, Jasmine Whitbread, comments.
Wednesday 5 September 2007
Today a new international partnership that will save millions of lives by helping build national health systems in some of the poorest countries in the world will be annouced by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Seven 'first wave' countries in Africa and Asia will join the new International Health Partnership (IHP) which is supported by donor governments and agencies.
Save the Children's Chief Executive, Jasmine Whitbread, welcomed the news:
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"The focus of today's initiative is spot on. Supporting health systems in the poorest countries around the world means there will be more clinics, doctors, nurses and medicines available to help save children's lives. Around 30,000 children are dying every day, many of preventable diseases. Bringing together rich and poor governments and organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Global Fund behind this initiative is a major breakthrough and we will be doing everything we can to support as well as monitor progress.
"At the G8, aid agencies like Save the Children pushed for a concrete plan to be drawn up to strengthen health systems and increase the number of people that have access to essential treatment."
The International Health Partnership (IHP)
The IHP is part of a renewed global push to meet the health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - cutting child deaths, improving maternal mortality and fighting major diseases. It aims to make health aid work better for poor countries by doing three things:
- focusing on improving health systems as a whole and, not just on individual diseases or issues
- providing better coordination among donors
- developing and supporting countries' own health plans.
What you can do
- Find out more about Save the Children's work to tackle hunger and improve access to basic healthcare for children
- Get involved in our campaign for free healthcare for children
- Visit the Department of International Development (DFID) website for more details aout the IHP.
