Accelerating Progress in Child Survival and Maternal Health

On March 31, the Congressional Global Health Caucus sponsored a briefing on the state of child survival and maternal health.  Too many children die before the age of five from completely preventable causes, and too many women die unnecessarily from complications of pregnancy and birth. The strategies and solutions exist to make dramatic progress in cutting child and maternal mortality rates in even the poorest countries.

A distinguished panel of experts provided a global overview of child and maternal health, with a focus on strategies that work to save child and mother lives – and how the United States can lead the world in making child survival and maternal health a priority.  The U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Save the Children, ONE, and the US Coalition for Child Survival worked together to host the event, which took place in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.

Download the Presentations:

•  Global Challenges in Child Survival: Turning Evidence into Action (powerpoint)
Dr. Peter Salama, Chief of Health, UNICEF

Peter Salama is a medical epidemiologist and the Chief of Global Health for UNICEF. In this role, he is responsible for the organization's health-related activities in more than 150 countries, with a focus on maternal, newborn and child survival, immunization, HIV, health systems strengthening, and policy and research. From 2002 to 2004, he served as Chief of Health and Nutrition for UNICEF in Afghanistan. Prior to that, he worked for Concern and Doctors Without Borders in Southern Sudan, Burundi, Thailand, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia.

•  Accelerating Progress Towards Meeting MDGs 4 and 5: What Save the Children has learned
David Oot, MPH, Associate Vice President for Health and Nutrition, Save the Children

David Oot manages a diverse portfolio of maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health activities, and oversees the delivery of technical support and assistance to more than 40 countries worldwide. Prior to joining Save the Children, David served as Director of USAID's Office of Health and Nutrition, after spending several years with the agency in Asia. He has also served in the Peace Corps in India.

•  Basic Principles of Strong MCH Programs
Dr. Richard Greene, Director, Office of Health, Infectious Diseases, and Nutrition, USAID

Since February 2000, Richard Greene has served as the Director of the Office of Health, Infectious Diseases, and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health for USAID. He has a long history with the Agency, having worked extensively in countries such as Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Sudan. For his leadership in the Presidential Malaria Initiative, Richard was named Federal Employee of the Year in 2008 by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service.

•  Liesl Hickey, Senior Director of U.S. Campaigns, ONE

Liesl Hickey joined ONE in March 2007 as Campaign Director for ONE Vote ‘08. In this role, Liesl oversaw all aspects of the campaign including a ten-state battleground field operation, the political conventions, a high-profile trip to Africa, and overall strategy and research. Prior to joining ONE, Liesl was involved in Republican politics for over 10 years.