29 October 2012, Addis Ababa — As part of ongoing efforts to table the Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) on the agenda of the upcoming African Union Summit in January, Mr. Bunmi Makinwa, UNFPA Africa Regional Director met the ambassadors of 15 African States, based in Addis Ababa. At a dinner function organized for the discussion, Mr. Makinwa said: “In Africa we are witnessing positive things in various development endeavours but at the same time the continent has some of the worst development indicators, one of which is the high prevalence of maternal mortality.”
Africa has, nevertheless, made progress in reversing this situation in recent years and an overwhelming majority of countries on the continent have now committed to CARMMA, Mr. Makinwa said. A high level special event would be organized for African Heads of States at the AU Summit in January; he urged the ambassadors to place “CARMMA back on the Agenda of African leaders” at the summit. The event, to take the form of a high level luncheon to be hosted by the current Chairperson of the African Union, President of the Republic of Benin H.E. Yayi Boni, will provide an opportunity for Heads of States and Governments to deliberate on the subject of CARMMA and exchange ideas and perspectives.
H.E. Mr. Ferdinand Montcho, Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to Ethiopia, asked “is it fair, when we are making preparations to mark the 50th anniversary of the African Union, to see a woman dying in childbirth?” He noted that collective commitment and action is vital to move the CARMMA agenda forward.
In collaboration with the African Union, UNFPA launched CARMMA in May 2009 under the theme “Universal access to quality services: improve maternal, neonatal and child health.” CARMMA derives its significance and authority from previous commitments made by African Heads of State on Maternal Health and the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). CARMMA builds on the continental Policy Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health and the consequent Maputo Plan of Action.
CARMMA was given greater recognition at the AU Summit held in Kampala in July 2010, where Heads of States and Governments reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate efforts to improve the state of health of Africa’s women and children and thereby attain the MDGs, particularly MDGs 4, 5, and 6, by 2015.
To date, 37 member states of the African Union have launched CARMMA and these campaigns have given visibility to the cause of maternal health in Africa by raising awareness, high level political commitment and country ownership.
