On March 10, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-4), Congressman Dave Reichert (R, WA-8), and Congresswoman Lois Capps (D, CA-23) introduced H.R.1410 - the Newborn, Child, and Mother Survival Act of 2009. The bill, an expanded version of the Global Child Survival Act from the 110th Congress, authorizes a clear, coordinated strategy to save the lives of newborns, children and mothers in developing countries.

Factsheets and Additional Resources

•  Summary Factsheet (pdf)

•  Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)

•  List of Cosponsors

•  Full text of H.R.1410 (pdf) - Government Printing Office

•  Bill Summary - Library of Congress

The State of Global Newborn, Child, and Maternal Health

Every year, more than 9 million children under age five die, mostly from preventable and treatable diseases, while over half a million women die from pregnancy related causes.

•  More than 25,000 children die every day, which is equivalent to 17 children each minute. Pneumonia, diarrhea and complications during childbirth are leading causes of death. Poor nutrition is an underlying contributor in up to one-third of these deaths.

•  An estimated 3.7 million newborns die in the first 4 weeks of life (40 percent of under-5 deaths).

•  Approximately 536,000 women die each year in developing countries from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, which is equivalent to 1 woman every 60 seconds. A child whose mother dies has 3-10 times greater risk of death than one whose mother survives.

•  Globally, 97 percent of maternal and under-5 deaths occur in 68 developing countries.

Proven, cost-effective interventions can save the lives of millions of newborns, children, and mothers each year.

•  Essential newborn care - including immunizing mothers against tetanus, ensuring clean delivery practices in a hygienic birthing environment, drying and wrapping the baby immediately after birth (providing necessary warmth), and promoting immediate and continued breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, immunization, and treatment of infections with antibiotics - could save the lives of about 3 million newborns each year.

•  Millions of children’s lives can be saved through high-impact, low-cost interventions, including oral rehydration therapy (ORT), antibiotics to treat respiratory infections, anti-malaria tablets, and Vitamin A supplements.

•  Improved sanitation and access to clean drinking water can reduce childhood infections and diarrhea. Over 40 percent of the world's population does not have access to basic sanitation, and more than one billion people use unsafe sources of drinking water.

•  Through the training of skilled birth attendants, the expansion of clinical care, and a focus on an effective household to hospital continuum of care that provides timely linkage to referral-level obstetric care, the lives of mothers in developing countries can be saved. An additional 700,000 skilled and trained birth attendants and 47,000 doctors with emergency obstetric skills are needed to ensure universal coverage to maternity care.

United States leadership saves lives.

•  The United States has joined 188 countries in supporting the Millennium Development Goals for 2015, including the reduction of under-five mortality by two-thirds (goal 4) and the reduction of maternal deaths by three-quarters (goal 5).

•  The significant commitment of the United States to reducing child mortality in the developing world contributed to a 50 percent reduction in the mortality of children under the age of 5 between 1960 and 1990. In the past ten years, under-five mortality has dropped by 20 to 50 percent in 15 USAID-assisted countries.

What the Newborn, Child, and Mother Survival Act Would Do

To restore United States leadership in improving the health of newborns, children, and mothers, the Act would:

•  Require the United States Government to develop and implement an integrated, comprehensive strategy for reducing mortality and improving newborn, child, and maternal health, with an intentional focus on 60 countries with the highest newborn, child, and maternal mortality rates.

•  Establish guidelines for child and maternal health programs, including the strengthening of local capacity and self-sufficiency, partnerships with non-governmental organizations, participation by local communities, and coordination with other donors.

•  Continue investments in proven, cost-effective international child and maternal health programs, including the Global Vaccines Initiative, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme.

•  Authorize a proportional expansion of the Child Survival and Health Grants Program created by Congress to help further American commitment to newborn, child, and maternal health.

•  Create an Interagency Newborn, Child, and Maternal Health Task Force to coordinate U.S. Government activities directed toward achieving child and maternal health goals.

•  Require the President to submit an annual report to Congress detailing U.S. efforts to reduce mortality and promote the health of newborns, children, and mothers in developing countries.