“In Solomon Islands we lose one precious mother every three weeks due to complications with pregnancy or child birth and on average six infants die each week”.
This was stated by the Coordinator of the UN Joint Programme support to Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Ms. Mary McCabe during her official remarks during the launching of the UN Joint Programme yesterday in Honiara.
The UN Joint Programme support to MHMS is on Reproductive, Maternal, Nutrition, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH).
Ms. McCabe said that during the Tenth Pacific Health Ministers Meeting a commitment was made to supporting and prioritizing Millennium Development Goal 4 which aims to decrease infant mortality and goal 5 to improve maternal health outcomes.
“ In making that commitment Health Ministers realized that we needed to start doing things differently as Albert Einstein once said and was table at the national health conference “Madness is the definition of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to get a different result. “
She explained, “Therefore in the spirit of delivering as one, we are operating now utilizing a different partnership modality, a Joint UN modality where UN partners will work in an integrated way with the Ministry of Health with UN Partner organizations on plan and on budget so we are able to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of reproductive, maternal and child health outcomes for Solomon Islands.
The UN Joint Programme Coordinator concluded her remarks thanking the people and government of Solomon Islands.
“So in working towards these important goals I would like to thank you the people and the government of Solomon islands for your strong and valued support in bringing about this important change helping to enable people to truly become healthy, happy and productive.:”
