HRC 13: Statement on Child Health by World Vision

Submitted by crinadmin on

Summary: Human Rights Council 13th Session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate, Statement delivered by World Vision InternationalThank you Mr President,

Every year more than 9 million children under the age of five die from preventable health-related causes – an appalling and yet silent tragedy. Cost-effective interventions such as water and sanitation for hygiene, immunisation, the provision of mosquito nets, breastfeeding education and the provision of micro-nutrients, have been proven in a number of developing countries, and could prevent at least six million child deaths each year.

In October last year, World Vision launched a global campaign which aims to reduce these preventable deaths and support Governments in their efforts to fulfil their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and commitments to the Millennium Development Goals.

World Vision is particularly concerned with the relationship between the right to health and the right to food, especially as up to half of all child deaths under the age of 5 could be prevented by sufficient and nutritious feeding at an early age, and about 70% of all children suffering from malnutrition live in rural food growing areas.

Mr President:

1. A Global Action Plan for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health currently under development and led by the UN Secretary-General’s office needs to be implemented. This Action Plan must ensure that maternal and child health care is prioritised and financed and provides free and easily accessible health services for mothers and children regardless of level of income, geographic location or ethnicity.

2. There must be an increase in health funding from donors from 20 billion US dollars per year to 42.5 billion by 2015 in order for the international community to meet the MDG health commitments.

3. Adequate food and nutrition security for communities must be ensured through interventions to improve the nutritional status of women and children.

Thank you.

Statement delivered by:

Thiago Luchesi
World Vision International

Organisation: 
World Vision International - International Liaison Office
Web: 
http://www.crin.org/resources/infodetail.asp?id=21698
Link : 

Countries

    Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.