National Dissemination Conference: Mother and Infant Health Project

I am pleased that so many important partners have found time to participate in this year’s dissemination conference, among them Deputy Minister of Health Orda, Verkhovna Rada deputies and the director of the World Health Organization’s "Making Pregnancy Safer" program, Dr.  Monnir Islam, as well as representatives from Ukraine’s NGO and private sectors. The United States Government holds the view that a country must invest in its people in order to thrive, and therefore is committed to helping Ukraine raise the level of mother and infant health. Our joint collaboration with the Government of Ukraine has strategic importance.  Healthy, younger generations are needed to make Ukraine a successful and prosperous country, and thus to become a stronger international partner. The level of interest and participation here today only makes it more certain that our efforts will succeed. USAID has successfully collaborated with the Ministry of Health for the last four years through its Mother and Infant Health Project, and now has committed to continuing this work.  The project’s current successes are outstanding.  For example: There were no maternal deaths in all 16 Mother and Infant Health pilot project sites in 2005, and neonatal mortality decreased by more than 67%. Hypothermia among newborns was virtually eliminated in project sites.  Previously it had affected up to 90% of all newborns. The number of normal deliveries increased by 60% on average at project sites. At another level, it is also important that the two maternities in Lutsk and Donetsk documented annual cost savings of $100,000 in 2005 due to project interventions. This year’s dissemination conference symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in our partnership with Ukraine.  The Mother and Infant Health Project will now embark on a four-year effort to extend implementation and disseminatation of World Health Organization (WHO) technologies for the care of newborns and their mothers to all oblasts of Ukraine. This will include introduction of internationally-accepted birthing technologies for health providers, and promoting effective curricula at medical educational establishments in selected oblasts of Ukraine.   Maintaining our partnerships and collaborating further with all our partners present here today will be vital for ensuring that the effort is effective and brings tangible results.  Thank you.