A BIG STEP FOR CHILDREN: THE GLOBAL CHILD SURVIVAL ACT OF 2007

According to UNICEF, for the first time in history, the number of children dying worldwide has dropped below 10 million every year. Cost-effective life-saving interventions like breastfeeding, vitamin A supplementation, insecticide-treated bed nets, and vaccinations are reaching many children in developing countries. Still, much more needs to be done. Through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival seeks to maintain this momentum by calling for increased funding for child and maternal health programs through passage of the Global Child Survival Act, which is now pending in the U.S. Congress. Child survival funding has remained stagnant for over 12 years. The Act also aims to increase accountability for in-country organizations and improve the coordination of programs to combat largely preventable and treatable diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.    

Representatives Betty McCollum, D-Minn., and Chris Shays. R-Conn., introduced H.R. 2266 on May 10, 2007; the Senate measure (S. 1418), which was put forward by Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Gordon Smith, R-Oregon, followed a week later. The House bill has 50 co-sponsors; the Senate version has 16. The House bill is pending in the House Foreign Affairs Africa and Global Health Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J. Action is expected to be taken on the legislation by the end of the year.

The Coalition has more than 30 members, including some of the most influential private and non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and faith-based groups working on behalf of children and their families in developing countries. The Coalition has been working actively at the policy level with partners like the GAVI Alliance, the Global Health Council, PATH, Save the Children, and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. It also has a strong grassroots presence through members such as Christian Connections for International Health, the CORE Group, RESULTS, and the Student Campaign for Child Survival. Finally, the Coalition has been collaborating with the ONE Campaign (see http://www.one.org), a grassroots campaign focused on raising public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger and disease, including child survival and health.

Today, join the Coalition and urge your representative and/or senator to support the Global Survival Act. Our children are worth it, and we can make a difference! For further information visit www.child-survival.org or write to the Coalition at info@usccs.org. 

--Elizabeth Creel, E-mail:ecreel@usccs.org