World maternal mortality rate is an outrage, says Ban Ki-moon
May 19th, 2009 - 9:18 pm ICT by IANS
Geneva, May 19 (DPA) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday slammed the world’s progress on lowering the maternal mortality rate, calling it an “outrage”.
Speaking at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Ban said half a million women still die each year during pregnancy and childbirth.
“Maternal health is the mother of all health challenges,” he told the health ministers and other high-level officials at the meeting.
According to the UN, governments, particularly in the developing world, are lagging far behind on women’s health. Ban said it was the slowest moving of all the Millennium Development Goals.
Ban also warned against cutting health budgets owing to the economic crisis, saying it would reverse progress made on health goals.
Sarah Brown, wife of British Premier Gordon Brown, was also set to address the delegates on women’s health and safe motherhood.
The World Health Assembly is the annual high-level meeting of the 193-member World Health Organisation. It is meeting in Geneva for the 62nd annual meeting.
- "The great goals are within reach" - UN's Ban - Sep 23, 2010
- UN offers to help India in checking HIV transmission - Apr 26, 2012
- Maternal mortality rate down by half in South Asia: UN - Jul 08, 2011
- India fighting against non-communicable diseases: Azad - Sep 20, 2011
- India, others making efforts to save children, women: UN - Sep 20, 2011
- Non-communicable diseases threat to development: UN chief - Sep 20, 2011
- UN, World Bank to jointly address global challenges - Aug 10, 2012
- Ban to meet business leaders for UN health agenda - Apr 28, 2012
- UN urges increased efforts to achieve sustainable energy for all - Jan 17, 2012
- UN chief lauds Bangladesh for healthcare facilities - Nov 15, 2011
- India needs to improve implementation of social schemes - Sep 15, 2010
- UN chief to visit India - Apr 24, 2012
- Asia represents world's best hope for achieving MDGs: ADB president tells UN - Sep 23, 2010
- Asia's maternal mortality rate declines 52 percent: Report - Sep 15, 2010
- UN chief to visit India this week (Lead) - Apr 24, 2012
Tags: ban ki moon, developing world, dpa, economic crisis, gordon brown, half a million, health goals, health ministers, level officials, maternal health, maternal mortality rate, member world, millennium development goals, outrage, pregnancy and childbirth, safe motherhood, sarah brown, un secretary general, world health assembly, world health organisation