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The outcome of the partnership meeting on Maternal, New Born and Child Health, “Lives in the Balance”, the Delhi Declaration was presented to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, here today. The partnership meeting was organized in collaboration with three international NGOs by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry to focus on the urgent need to reorient national and sub-national plans to fully meet the Millennium Development Goals on Maternal and Child Health by 2015.
The Delhi Declaration was drawn up by Ministers and delegations from Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan and Tanzania, and representatives of other governments, the United Nations, the World Bank, national and international NGOs, professional bodies, academia, and civil society from all continents. The Declaration recognizes that the responsibility to save maternal, new born and child lives lies not only with the countries but also with the international community working together as committed partners.
The high-level meeting in its declaration has asserted its consensus that the way forward lay in taking an integrated approach to reproductive, maternal and child health ensuring a continuum of care from pregnancy to childhood and in incorporating specific strategies to address inequities in such health programmes.
The Delhi Declaration spells out year-wise goals to achieve the MDGs on maternal and child health by 2015. The plan includes the following:
· By the middle of 2006 at the latest, develop a plan of action to achieve such coverage, meet shortages of skilled health personnel and commodities, and devise mechanisms to involve all partners;
· Mobilize resources to finance the plan of action, in traditional and innovative ways, and identify needs for external support, where necessary.
· By the end of 2006 at the latest, launch the plan of action and accelerate the delivery of high-impact strategic interventions; and
· By 2007 at the latest, have in place a system to monitor and report coverage, resources and outcomes directed towards achieving mortality reduction and promotion of health.
Speaking after unveiling the Delhi Declaration, the Chairperson, National Advisory Council, Smt. Sonia Gandhi said the subject of mother and child care was not only close to her heart but was the highest priority for the common man. She said the UPA Government was committed to increase public investment in education, health, women and child development, water and sanitation and that commitment was reflected in the significant increases in the budget. She said, however, that the increasing level of public investment in social infrastructure must be “accompanied by innovations in the management of delivery systems.” Local self governing bodies must be involved in health delivery, she added.
The NAC Chairperson said that political parties must take the entire gamut of social issues to their own cadres. “Health is not a medical issue but a vital element of social justice”, she added. She described the Delhi Declaration “as a step for decisive action”.
Speaking earlier, the Union Health & Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to betterment of health facilities and provision of best possible care for mothers and children. He said, India was the first country to use auto-disposable syringes. He also referred to the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) which is to be launched next week by the Prime Minister. Together with the revamped, Reproductive and Child Health programme, the NRHM will become a holistic programme, he said.
The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi in her welcome address termed the proceedings of the partnership meeting as immensely valuable. She said the outcome of the meeting will serve in better health care services for mother and children and help the Government “redouble its efforts to make every mother and child count”.
EK/SB/NSR
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