The Millennium Campaign: Achieving Goals in Maternal and Child Health

Every election year, non-voters are heard claiming a small vote or voice does not matter in the scheme of millions of votes in opposition. Supporters of the cause explain that small votes add up to larger votes which can, in turn, change the course of the future. At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, 189 countries small and large chose to band together to change that future. With specific goals focusing on poverty, world hunger, gender equity, maternal health, child health, HIV, sustainability and global partnership, everyone has something at stake in this 15 year venture. At the heart of the Millennium Campaign are 15 year goals, two of which take maternal and child health into consideration.

Pregnant Women Must Die Less and Access Care More Easily

According to the summit goals for maternal health, the mortality rate after childbirth is far too high across the world. In wealthy nations, the day of birth is joyous and filled with hope and love. In impoverished nations, birth can quickly lead to maternal death. Women in poorer countries rarely have access to reproductive care or prenatal care. Receiving prenatal care is important to the health of mother and fetus. The countries who are actively trying to meet summit goals plan to reduce the number of women lost during pregnancy by 2/3 over the 15 year course of the Millennium Campaign.

The Millennium Campaign offers statistic and facts that some may find appalling but necessary to get the point across to those who still believe change is impossible. According to one statistic, about 1 out of every 16 pregnancies in some areas in Africa end in death before baby is born or during childbirth. That number is huge compared to the 1 in 3,700 rate of maternal death in North America.

Children Need to Live Longer to Change the World

With medical advances and access to regular health care, children can live longer. It is unnerving to read that 1,200 children die every hour in the world from illnesses and conditions that are easily treated with western medicine. This number includes children under the age of five - only. The Millennium Campaign aims to reduce that number by 2/3 by 2015. Children should have access to health care and preventative checkups no matter the income situation of a home or country and that is what the countries participating in the summit goals are trying to make into a reality.

What Can You Do to Help?

There are local meetings, speeches and online information regarding the pledge and goals set by the United Nations Millennium Campaign. All information is free to access through EndPoverty2015.org. Contact can also be made through the official website Contact Us page for more information on how you can help the world achieve healthier moms and babies.

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