Accountability for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health - Lives and not just Numbers: The AU Commemorates CARMMA Week.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26 November 2014 - The African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, is pleased to announce the 4th Annual CARMMA awareness-raising week - aimed at saving the lives of African mothers and children.
As part of the week long celebrations, Dr. Kaloko has launched a health database “African Health Stats” – set to rival other global websites in its innovative, accessible design, content and functionality.
At the event with partners, including the media to kick-start the week-long celebration, the Commissioner noted the positive impact of the African Union Commission in accelerating efforts to save the lives of mothers and children, since the continental launch of the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) in 2009. For example
“Countries that have launched CARMMA – like Tunisia, Rwanda, Eritrea, and Ethiopia have made great strides in reducing mortality rates.
Eritrea has witnessed a fall in its maternal death rate from 880 per 100,000 live births to 240; representing an increase in the life chances of Eritrean mothers and their babies.
Rwanda’s maternal mortality ratio has fallen to 383 per 100,000 live births from a high of 1400 per 100,000 in 1994.
These are dramatic, life-saving changes for which African governments, their health workers and other stakeholders, deserve great credit.
This year the African Union is taking what Commissioner Kaloko has termed “another bold and exciting step forward” - by launching the vibrant new website – African Health Stats - www.africanhealthstats.org.
The accessible, authoritative, up-to-date and visually interactive website details data relevant to Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) as well as HIV&AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa. In addition, the site includes health financial data for 54 African countries.
“We are very proud of this website” said Amb. Olawale Maiyegun, the African Union's Director of Social Affairs. “It is ground-breaking in its design, functionality and content, and is set to become the flagship of the African Union’s CARMMA campaign.
“We invite all those interested in improving the health status of Africa’s mothers and children and in the performance of African governments in reducing mortality rates - to visit the site and make use of its data.”
QUOTES ON THE LAUNCH OF AFRICAN HEALTH STATS
“UNFPA is proud to support CARMMA, and excited about the launch of the ground-breaking African Health Stats website. Now from Tunis in the north, to Cape Town in the south it will be possible for policy-makers, health workers, journalists and researchers to access data on progress in maternal and newborn survival in Africa. The site is an outstanding example of collaborative achievement by both the AU and its partners, including DFID, USAID and UNFPA, not to mention the many academics and experts that contributed to its content.
Only the African Union, with its continent-wide convening power, could have achieved this – so all strength to CARMMA!”
- Dr Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Regional Director, East and Southern Africa
““Through Evidence for Action, DFID is proud to support the African Union’s efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality across the continent through CARMMA, and in this way advance development on the continent. We are also pleased to have been a key partner in the development of the new, innovative and content-rich website: African Health Stats. Armed with the wealth of information and evidence easily available from the website, Africa’s policy-makers, health experts, media and advocates can now track progress and performance across the continent in a broad health context, including HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, as well as for maternal and newborn health. The African Union can be proud of its role in setting up and promoting this outstanding example of transparency and accountability in health, which enhances nations ability to learn from each other to drive progress.”
- Dr Louise Hulton, Programme Director, Evidence for Action.
"USAID congratulates the African Union on the launch yet another ground breaking innovation of the CARMMA campaign – African Health Stats. We are proud to have supported the detailed and extensive work that went into the assembly of data on African MNCH but also on health financing. The site is now a transparent mechanism for all those wishing to assess and track the actions and policies of African governments in saving the lives of mothers and newborns. It also provides a platform for celebrating the considerable progress of some African governments in saving the lives of African mothers, babies and children. Well done CARMMA!”
- Lisa Baldwin, Division Chief, Health, USAID Bureau for Africa.
"Accountability is key to achieving better results for women and children. Accountability efforts are only as good as the data that they are built on, the networks that disseminate information and call for action, and the political will to act on recommendations. We welcome African Union efforts to increase access to internationally comparable data through Afrihealthstats.org and continued efforts to promote high level political commitment and accountability through the CARMMA campaign." - Dr Andres de Francisco, a.i. Executive Director, PMNCH

For media inquiries and requests contact:
Mr. Wurie Bah, tel. 0+251912521689, email; bahw@africa-union.org
Mr. Robert Ndieka, African Union Commission, Ndiekar@africa-union.org
Web: www.carmma.org : www.au.int | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

About the African Union CARMMA
The ‘Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA)’ is a major initiative driven by the Department of Social Affairs (DSA) of the African Union Commission (AUC) aimed at promoting and advocating for renewed and intensified implementation of the Maputo Plan of Action for Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality in the Africa Region. The Campaign was launched in May 2009 under the theme: “Africa Cares: No Woman should Die while Giving Life”. More on CARMMA is available on www.carmma.org.
The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission. Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en/

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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