New Report to Reveal Latest Trends in Health Coverage to Save Lives of Mothers, Babies and Children

WHAT:

Leading global health experts, policymakers and parliamentarians will gather in Cape Town, South Africa from 17 to 19 April 2008 for the Countdown to 2015 for Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival Conference and report launch. The report will reveal the latest trends in life-saving interventions critical to reducing deaths and reach The Millennium Development Goals on health. The event takes place in advance of G8 Summit discussions on strengthening health systems for maternal, newborn and child health, to be held in Japan in July 2008.

Parliamentarians from the 68 countries which account for 97 per cent of global maternal and child deaths, as well as from donor nations, will participate in joint sessions to consider the latest research findings and debate strategies for increasing coverage levels. Over 10 million women, newborns and children under five die each year from causes which are largely preventable and treatable.

The medical journal, The Lancet, will publish a special Countdown to 2015 issue to be launched at a press conference in London on 10 April.

The Countdown to 2015 conference will take place during the 118th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (www.ipu.org), which brings together over 1,000 delegates from around the world in Cape Town, from 13 to18 April. The overlapping events will provide a valuable forum for debate and action aimed at stimulating investment in maternal, newborn and child health.

WHO:

• Lead authors of the 2008 Countdown to 2015 report

• Key global health spokespersons from partners such as The Lancet, Save the Children, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health

• Parliamentarians from 68 high-burden mortality countries as well as donor countries

• Government representatives 

WHEN:

• Thursday, 10 April, 1030, Lancet media briefing, Science Media Centre, London, United Kingdom

• Wednesday, 16 April, 1300, IPU/Countdown joint press conference, International Convention Centre, Cape Town

• Thursday, 17 April, 0900-1030, Countdown opening ceremony, Westin Grand Hotel, Cape Town

• Thursday, 17 April, 1600-1800, Countdown/IPU special session, Westin Grand Hotel, Cape Town

• Saturday, 19 April, 1300, Countdown closing press conference, Westin Grand Hotel, Cape Town

WHERE:

Westin Grand Arabella Quays Hotel & Conference Centre, Convention Square, Lower Long Street, Cape Town

Note for media:

Press kits, news B-roll, photographs and copies of the 2008 Countdown to 2015 report, 68 country profiles and special Lancet Countdown Issue will be available to journalists. Journalists are requested to pre-register by filling a form and sending it to mariad@meropa.co.za.

Contact Information:

In Cape Town:

• George Ngwa, UNFPA, mobile: +27 72 627 1032, office: +27 12 354 8405, ngwa@unfpa.org

• Maria Djordjevic, Meropa Communications, mobile: +27 82 334 6192, office: +27 11 772 1000, mariad@meropa.co.za

In Geneva:

• Tunga Namjilsuren, The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, mobile: +41 76 494 32 39, office: +41 22 791 10 73, namjilsurent@who.int 

In London:

• Cathy Bartley, Bartley Robbs Consultants, tel: +44 20 869 49138, cathy.bartley@bartleyrobbs.co.uk

In New York:

• Katja Iversen, UNFPA, mobile +1 917 403 3063, office: +1 212 297 5016, iversen@unfpa.org

• Jessica Malter, UNICEF, mobile: +1 646 732 0047, office: +1 212 326 7412, jmalter@unicef.org