Minister Oda to Visit Africa in Support of Canada’s Muskoka G-8 Initiative on Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health

August 12, 2010

Ottawa (Ontario)―The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, will travel to Mozambique and Mali from August 16 to 26 to engage African national and community-level leaders and organizations on the next steps in Canada's Muskoka G-8 Initiative.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently led his G-8 partners to adopt the Muskoka Initiative to save the lives and improve the health of mothers and children in the world's poorest countries. Following the Muskoka Summit, the total Canadian contribution for maternal, newborn and child health stands at $2.85 billion over five years. In addition to $1.1 billion in new money, the government will also renew existing funding of $1.75 billion over the next five years, for what will be a permanent and long-term commitment.¹

"It is important to our government that African communities are actively engaged in Canada's work toward improving the health of mothers, newborns, and children under the age of five. During this visit, I will be looking to strengthen our partnership with Mali and Mozambique, among other countries, in defining concrete actions to support their efforts to reduce these preventable deaths," said Minister Oda. "Canada's investments in building comprehensive and integrated primary health systems at the local level, improving nutrition and countering the effects of disease on mothers, newborns, and children under the age of five will have a direct impact on the outcomes we can achieve before 2015."

Eighty percent of Canada's new $1.1 billion commitment has been dedicated to efforts in sub-Saharan Africa over the next five years. "We will target those areas where the need is great and where our efforts can make a sustainable difference," Minister Oda added. "Our plan is to ensure that we, as partners, can make concrete and long-term improvements for this generation and those to come."

In line with the G-8 development ministers' principles agreed to in Halifax, Minister Oda will meet African health ministers and other government officials and engage local communities and organizations working in the field to identify critical gaps and effective, practical means to meet the needs identified. Minister Oda will also host round tables involving other donors, including other G-8 members, to ensure that coordinated, coherent, and complementary approaches will enhance all development efforts to make significant breakthroughs with the Muskoka G-8 Initiative.

According to the World Health Organization, Mozambique's rate of maternal deaths is among the world's highest, accounting for about 3,840 maternal deaths per year or almost 11 per day. According to the 2008 UNICEF State of the World's Children report, about 100,000 children die per year in Mali due to largely preventable causes. Recognizing the significant efforts of the affected governments to take action to address this challenging reality, Canada's contributions will result in demonstrable improvements for the mothers and children in Mali and Mozambique.

Minister Oda's visits to Mali and Mozambique are part of ongoing undertakings to engage partner countries to ensure our efforts align with their plans, respond to their greatest needs, and are sustainable. Canada will also continue to consult global and Canadian health experts to ensure that Canada does its best to save the most lives.

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Note:

¹ Backgrounder: Saving the Most Vulnerable: Canada's Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Information:

Isabelle Bouchard
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238

Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca