The progress made in global efforts to improve women’s and children’s health was highlighted at an Every Woman Every Child event hosted by the United Nations Secretary-General at the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, being held in New York, United States of America.
Vera Brezhneva, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, spoke alongside the United Nations Secretary-General at the event and reminded panel members and the audience that work is still needed to ensure that every child is born free from HIV.
In 2013, an estimated 240 000 children became infected with HIV and more than three in 10 women living with HIV did not receive the necessary antiretroviral treatment to prevent transmitting the virus to their child.
During the debate, Ms Brezhneva highlighted the need to focus on the unmet needs of women, children and adolescent girls, especially among populations most affected by HIV. She also called for the removal of barriers that stopped women accessing essential sexual and reproductive health-care services.
At the event, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, launched his progress report on the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health 2010–2015, highlighting that the world now has a historic opportunity to end preventable maternal, child and adolescent deaths.
“Our task now is to maintain and build on the momentum, complete the unfinished health MDGs, end the appalling tragedy of preventable deaths and invest in the future of women, children and adolescents.”
UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon
“We have great progress to build on. The Global Plan to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015 and to keep their mothers alive has mobilized leaders, partners, mothers—and fathers. From small steps, we are now making great strides.”
UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Eastern and Central Asia, Vera Brezhneva
