PMNCH Knowledge Summaries: #16 - Parliamentarians
Note: Full text and all graphs, tables and references for each Knowledge Summary are available only on the PDF version
Thousands of women’s and millions of children’s lives are lost each year unnecessarily. Over 350,000 deaths among women are attributed to pregnancy and childbirth complications,1 and in 2008 there were 22 million unsafe abortions. About 7.6 million children under the age of five died in 2010,3 and over 40% (3.3 million) of these happened within the first month of birth.4 In addition, there are 2.6 million stillbirths each year globally. The needless loss of these lives is tantamount to denying women and children their right to life. Recently, this was recognized by the Human Rights Council resolution on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights.
Fewer women and babies died due to pregnancy and childbirth complications in 2008 than in 1990. But, the average annual decline in the maternal mortality rate was 2.3% per year (1990 to 2008), instead of 5.5% - the rate required for achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5. Although under-five child mortality has declined at the rate of 2.2%, newborn mortality declined only at a rate of 1.7% per year (1990 to 2010) and the required rate for achieving MDG 4 is 4.4% per year.
Progress on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) can be accelerated, if the well-known, proven and cost-effective interventions are implemented. Existing constraints, however, need to be overcome. While technical solutions, quality improvements and greater resources are no doubt essential, political will is fundamental. Parliamentarians can provide the dynamic leadership to generate such will and ensure necessary actions.
As the Millennium Development Goals target date of 2015 approaches, there is currently a renewed political focus and momentum on RMNCH issues. The time for parliamentarians to actively engage with RMNCH issues is now, and several opportunities to strengthen linkages are emerging.
The Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, which was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September 2010, has brought together governments, donors, multi-lateral organizations, civil society, academics, health care professionals and the private sector in committing resources and developing policies that promote women’s and children’s health. The Global Strategy sees leadership of parliamentarians as vital as they can “hold local governments accountable for their results.”
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has made a formal commitment to the Global Strategy in line with its long- term commitment to the health of women and children. This follows from the IPU’s engagement with:
- the Countdown to 2015 conference in South Africa in 2008;
- a 2008 meeting in the Hague;
- a follow-up meeting in Kampala;
- the 2010 meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament in Bern, which yielded an initiative to increase Parliamentary action to improve women’s and children’s health.
Please read the full text of the Knowledge Summary and download the pdf version with all tables and graphs on the MNCH Knowledge Portal.
