Accelerating progress towards achieving maternal and child health millennium development goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 in South-East Asia

Abstract

The Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region account for more than 3 million deaths of children under the age of five years and about 174 000 maternal deaths every year. This is about one-third of the annual global maternal and child deaths. Maternal and child mortality has many causes, including not only biomedical causes but social, cultural and economic factors that impact the status of maternal and child health. Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region are committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (‎MDGs)‎. A High Level Consultation was organized by the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office in October 2008 to review the progress and barriers to achieving the child and maternal health MDGs in South-East Asia; to share evidence-based interventions and best practices on maternal, newborn and child health; and to agree on a multisectoral framework to accelerate and sustain progress in achievement of MDGs 4 and 5. The consultation brought together policy-makers, programme managers from health and health-related sectors, health-care providers, academicians, professional organizations and donors from South-East Asia to deliberate upon the best ways to promote maternal, newborn and child health in South-East Asia. This report is an account of the proceedings of the consultation and recommendations for accelerating progress in the achievement of MDGs 4 and 5 in a sustainable manner by strengthening health systems using the primary health care approach.