MANILA, Philippines — Several international organizations, led by United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) and other multilateral agencies have rallied behind the launching of a global and concerted effort to save the lives of more than 16 million women and children, particularly in poor countries.

More than US$40 billion in resources for the promotion of women’s and children’ health have been pledged over the next five years during the recent launching of the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, which is set to benefit developing countries, including Philippines.

Led by United Nations Secretary -General Ban Ki-moon, the interagency strategy sought for global and multi-sector collaboration to provide universal access to healthcare for all women and children.  The global strategy serves as a roadmap that would specifically identify the finance and policy areas that should be changed as well as critical interventions that could save lives of vulnerable sectors.

“The Global Strategy asks us to be smart, strategic, and resourceful as never before,” WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said in a statement.

She said the integrated action of eight international health-related agencies, including United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), UNAIDS, and WHO “will strengthen capacities across the board, in ways that meet the comprehensive needs of women and children.”

Under the strategy, these organizations will together mobilize ongoing political and operational support to provide universal access to healthcare for all women and children.

“To improve women's health and achieve the health related MDGs, we need to address inequities, engage communities and scale up reproductive health services,” UNFPA executive director Thoraya Obaid said.