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10 June 2010 ,
Written by Dhruv Tanwar
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Melinda Gates has urged global leaders to make women’s and children’s health a top priority, and announced that the Gates Foundation will invest $1.5 billion over the next five years to support maternal and child health, family planning, and nutrition programs in developing countries.
“In poor countries, pregnancy and childbirth often end in tragedy. Our goal must be to build a world where every birth brings joy and hope for the future,” she said.
Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, discussed her vision for maternal and child health in a speech at the Women Deliver 2010 conference, an international meeting of policymakers, health experts, and advocates. She said it is critical to challenge the notion that large numbers of maternal and child deaths are inevitable, or even acceptable, in poor countries. She highlighted the importance of designing integrated health programs for women and children that address multiple needs – such as family planning, prenatal care, safe childbirth, and nutrition. |