New Delhi, India, August 27, 2015- Today the Global Call to Action Summit convened under the motto of “ending preventable child, adolescent and maternal deaths,” and is being organized in support of the Every Women, Every Child initiative of the UN Secretary-General. Co-hosted by the Governments of India and Ethiopia, USAID, UNICEF, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Tata Trusts, the Summit was inaugurated by welcoming remarks from the Prime Minister of India, H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi. The UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi also delivered special remarks at the Summit. The event was attended by over 500 participants representing high-level government officials, including Ministers of Health from 24 countries, civil society, donor community and the United Nations system. 

In his inaugural remarks, Mr. Modi said, “As we gather here to discuss strategies and as we transit from the Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals, let us acknowledge the sad reality that the world continues to lose about 289 thousand mothers and 6.3 million under-5 children every year. The 24 priority countries participating in the Summit contribute nearly 70% of the preventable maternal and child deaths”.

 Speaking at the Updated Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents Health Session, the Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, called for increased investments in health and well being, and the realization of their human rights of adolescents and youth. 

Alhendawi added that it is a moral responsibility and a strategic action to engage, consult and partner with adolescents and youth when designing and implementing policies on health. The Envoy welcomed the new focus in the Global Strategy on youth. He also highlighted the achievements of the world in general and, in India in particular, on the progress made towards the MDG targets on ending maternal and child mortality and improving their health. “Globally, millions of adolescents die or become sick from preventable causes. According to World Health Organization, 1.2 million adolescents lost their lives in 2012.” noted the Envoy on Youth. 

The two-day Summit will continue its work discussing the updated strategy and its means of implementation.