Coming on the heels of the IPU Assembly in Cape Town, the Countdown to 2015 Conference on Maternal, Newborn and Child Survival was held from 17 to 19 April 2008, and brought together major stakeholders in an effort to scale up global action to save some 10 million mothers and young children who die needlessly each year.
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A Statement of Commitment was made by more than 500 delegates, ministers of health and parliamentarians on the final day of the conference. Lauded as a key event bringing together decision-makers and health practitioners, delegates committed to increase the momentum of action to reduce maternal and child mortality. They agreed to meet again to continue the Countdown process in 2009 in cooperation with the IPU, and to convene another global Countdown Conference in 2010 to review progress.
First and foremost, the Cape Town Countdown Conference was aimed at assessing progress in providing essential health services for women and children in the 68 developing countries which account for 97 per cent of maternal and child deaths worldwide. Tracking Progress in Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival: The 2008 Countdown Report was launched, reporting progress being made by these focus countries to achieve MDGs 4 and 5: to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health. A highlight of the Conference was the joint Special IPU/Countdown Session and the invitation issued by the hosts of the next IPU Assembly - Ethiopia - to participate in the 120th IPU Assembly in April 2009 in Addis Ababa.
