OTTAWA, Ont. (Nov. 23, 2011)—Canadian and international health experts have gathered in Ottawa to put words into actions and deliver results to save the lives of women and children. The meetings were hosted by The Honourable Bev Oda, Minister for International Cooperation, who also attended World Vision’s “Healthy Children—Share the World Vision” event. While at the event, Minister Oda announced the new Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (CAN- MNCH Network).

World Vision’s event was attended by more than 125 Ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats and policy makers to celebrate the strides already made to address the 7.6 million children who don’t make it to their fifth birthday and the 358,000 women who die in pregnancy and childbirth. The event highlighted World Vision’s field work in health and nutrition as well as World Vision’s engagement with Canadians, CIDA, parliamentarians, youth, the United Nations and other partners working on child and maternal health.

World Vision welcomes the Minister’s announcement of the Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (CAN-MNCH Network). The Network is a gathering of Canada’s leading health experts and is already encouraging greater collaboration and shared learning amongst Canadian partners through an innovative website (http://www.can-mnch.ca/) that maps where and how Canadians are working on MNCH around the world. Moving forward, the network will be an important resource to advise the Government of Canada on results, best practices and new opportunities to save the lives of women and children.

The Canadian Network meetings complemented an international meeting of the WHO Accountability Commission. Canada is showing strong leadership to ensure practical steps are being taken to deliver on the Commission's 10 recommendations as well as the more than 200 commitments to the UN Every Woman Every Child Strategy. For these initiatives to succeed, high level political momentum must continue. World Vision looks forward to Canada’s continued leadership on accountability for women and children’s health, including from Prime Minister Harper at the upcoming Davos World Economic Forum.

Media Contact:

Tiffany Baggetta
Tel. 416-305-9612
Tiffany_Baggetta@worldvision.ca

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Visit our News Centre worldvision.ca