GLOBAL ACTION TO IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

Early day motion 1760, tabled 11 June 2008 by Chris McCafferty (Labour). Signed by 60 members.

That this House notes with concern that maternal and child death rates are still extremely high in developing countries, owing to the inadequacy of human resources and the absence of quality health services, particularly in rural areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America; acknowledges that the international community agreed to reduce maternal mortality by 75 per cent. by 2015 under Millennium Development Goal 5; therefore welcomes the emphasis placed on strengthening health services, especially sexual and reproductive health and rights, including maternal and child health and family planning services, in the Department for International Development's Achieving Universal Access, The New UK Strategy for Halting and Reversing the Spread of HIV in the Developing World; further notes that United Kingdom medical organisations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are working to ensure that training and expertise are provided in developing countries; and calls upon the Government to highlight maternal and child health at forthcoming key events in the European Parliament, the G8 Summit and UN meetings.

Signatures by party: Labour 42, Liberal Democrat 14, Conservative 2, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.