“2016: Old Challenges, New Hopes”
The IAP’s inaugural report was launched on September 18, 2016 in conjunction with the Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health, the World Health Organization and Countdown to 2030. The report was also formally submitted to the Secretary-General at the Every Woman Every Child high level reception on the 20th September 2016.
The report’s findings, presented by Carmen Barroso (acting chair of IAP) at the 5th annual Accountability Breakfast in New York City, demonstrate that urgent action is needed to meet global health commitments to women, children and adolescents through the Sustainable Development Goals. The report highlights that maternal mortality must be reduced at triple the current rate, 47 countries must accelerate their reduction in under-five mortality, the current trend in overweight children must be reversed, stillbirths must be recognized as a fundamental marker of inequality and efforts must be scaled up to reduce adolescent pregnancy, prevent violence and provide services for women experiencing violence.
“The Global Strategy has galvanized enthusiasm worldwide to achieve better health outcomes. However, global inequalities and humanitarian crises could stifle this commitment if we do not measure up to the need,” said Carmen Barroso, the Acting Chair of the IAP.
The event was hosted by The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, IAP, World Health Organization and Countdown to 2030 in support of Every Woman, Every Child and moderated by Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet.
Several leading experts and advocates on sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health contributed remarks and feedback:
- “Accountability is the ingredient that will allow us not to slide back,” remarked Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director General, WHO, PMNCH co-convener for Accountability.
- “The Sustainable Development Goals require new ways of working that apply everywhere. With the IAP, we have an instrument that will equip us well in the future,” stated David Nabarro, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- “I am a midwife by choice and not by chance, I am a product of maternal death,” stated George Nkhoma, Midwife, Malawi. “I never had the chance to see my mother. I knew I had to do something to give back to the mothers of this world. Midwifes do not demand a huge investment of resources. We only need the gloves to help women deliver. It’s high time we go back to the basics.”
- Accountability has to be citizen led,” remarked Caroline Maposhere, Nurse, Zimbabwe. “What are we doing after all these declarations? What is happening on the ground? We have to ask the women, before we set up programs. If women were put in charge, women would not be delivering on the floor. We want these commitments to be backed up by resources immediately.”
The report emphasized adolescents as a key driver in the effort to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. The report also named the health sector as a critical pathway to progress. Expected to create about 40 million new jobs by 2030 (mostly in middle- and high-income countries), the sector is a growing source of employment especially for women. The IAP says the health sector could be bolstered even further by strengthening the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.
Through this and future reports, the IAP will work to hold the global community accountable for the health commitments it has made to women, children and adolescents.
Report available here: http://iapreport.org/