NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS JOINT GLOBAL POLICY TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY

TO BE ANNOUNCED AT HEADQUARTERS 28 OCTOBER

Four United Nations agencies involved in promoting women’s health will announce a single global policy and unified action aimed at reducing risks related to pregnancy and childbirth at a Headquarters press conference 11 a.m. Thursday, 28 October, in room S-226.

Jointly making the announcement will be: Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Gro Harlem Bruntlund; Executive Director of the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Nafis Sadik; Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Carol Bellamy; and Vice-President of the World Bank, Eduardo Doryan.

Each year close to 600,000 women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, with 90 per cent occurring in the developing countries. More than 3 million newborns die within their first week of life and another 3 million are born dead.

A copy of the Joint Statement on Maternal Mortality Reduction and other related material will be distributed. For media accreditation contact Sonia Lecca, tel 212-963-6934; fax 212-963-4642.

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United Nations