MEDIA ADVISORY
World's Parliamentarians, Health Leaders Convene Countdown to 2015 for
Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival Conference,
17-19 April, Cape Town, South Africa
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, 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:
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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:
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WHERE:
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
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 at http://www.countdown2015mnch.org/documents/mediaregistration.doc and
sending it to mariad@meropa.co.za.
For more information, please contact:
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, +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
For more information:
Countdown 2015
Stepping up Efforts to Save Mothers' Lives
Note for editors:
Countdown to 2015 for Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival is a collaboration among individuals and institutions,
established in 2005, to track coverage for health interventions needed to reach the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). Countdown to 2015 specifically measures progress towards MDG 4 to reduce child mortality and
MDG 5 to improve maternal health and in addition, parts of MDG 1(eradicate extreme poverty and hunger), MDG
6 (combat HIV, malaria and other diseases) and MDG 7 (ensure environmental sustainability).
Countdown to 2015 partners are: Aga Khan University; AusAid; Bellagio Child Survival Group; Department for
International Development, (DFID), UK; Family Care International; International Paediatric Association; Johns
Hopkins University; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; NORAD; Save the Children; The Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation; The Lancet; The World Bank; University College London Centre for International
Health and Development; UNFPA; UNICEF; Universidade Federal de Pelotas; University of Aberdeen;
Department of Public Health, USAID; World Health Organization; with coordination by The Partnership for
Maternal, Newborn & Child Health.