President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan pledged Thursday in New York that as co-chair of the new United Nations Commission on Vital Health Supplies for Women and Children, he will undertake advocacy at the highest levels of global governance for the increased availability of essential supplies for maternal and child health in all regions of the world.
In a video message to the launching of the commission, President Jonathan promised that he will also work for increased affordability and accessibility of the essential supplies.“I stand ready, together with the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, to join the advocacy at the highest levels for increased availability, affordability and accessibility of essential but underutilized supplies for maternal and child health.
“We will work closely with the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, as well as the Executive Directors of UNFPA and UNICEF who are vice-Co-Chairs of this initiative. We must all work to make a difference and the time is now,” the President said.
Noting that the management of the health of women in every society was at the heart of their well-being and development, President Jonathan said that there could be no doubt that more lives could be saved by increasing access to affordable, effective medicines and health supplies.
“It is in recognition of the sad condition of the health and children in parts of the world that I consider it imperative to accept to serve as co-chair of the new Commission on Vital Supplies for Women and Children,” the President said.
The Prime Minister of Norway is the other designated co-Chair of the Commission.
