Media Contact: Brendan Daly (202.794.1580)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 19, 2015) — Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), along with Save the Children and other coalition partners, today sent a letter to President Barack Obama, affirming its commitment to working with the president, the White House and USAID to end preventable child and maternal deaths across the world.
SCAN thanked President Obama for ensuring the issue was prominently featured at the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit last August, as well as the United States’ commitment to “Accelerate Action in Africa” and expansion of collective efforts to save lives in the region.
“As we head into the Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa and the third anniversary event of A Promise Renewed in India, we believe that a visible, public launch of the financing framework at the White House and the one year progress report on Acting on the Call: Vision to End Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths will show world leaders, Congress, and the American public that the U.S. is serious about ending preventable child and maternal deaths and has taken vital steps towards making this vision a reality. The financing framework provides a menu of options that can help countries be financially sustainable – a key topic at the Addis conference,” the letter stated.
Members in both the House and Senate are currently developing robust legislation to dramatically accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including provisions that would strengthen and expand innovative financing.
“It’s clear that the momentum from the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit has continued through today and we believe a public announcement by the Administration of the EPCMD financing framework will continue that important dialogue and inform Congress as they potentially consider legislative strategies building upon it,” the letter said.
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Save the Children Action Network is the political voice for kids. We believe that every child deserves the best start in life. That’s why we’re building bipartisan will and voter support to make sure every child in the U.S. has access to high-quality early learning and that no mother or child around the globe dies from a preventable disease or illness. By investing in kids and holding leaders accountable, we are helping kids from birth to age five survive and thrive.