India, US to tackle maternal death issue

Washington: India, United States and Ethiopia have joined hands to address the global challenge of child and maternal deaths in particular in the third world countries.

Co-hosted by India, US and Ethiopia in collaboration with UNICEF and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the ‘Acting on the Call: Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths’ will unveil new efforts to save an unprecedented number of women and children by 2020 in 24 selected countries.

“An important touchstone since the first Call to Action in 2012, this forum will gather global health leaders from governments, faith-based organizations, civil societies and the private sector to review recent and significant accomplishments aimed at significantly reducing child and maternal deaths, and to plot a new course that will ensure progress continues,” USIAD said.

Vardhan is the first Cabinet Minister from the BJP-led NDA government in India to visit US.

During his stay, Vardhan is likely to meet his American counterpart Sylvia Mathews Burwell and attend the 32nd annual convention of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in Texas.