HACEP-GHANA CALLS ON PRESIDENT JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA TO COMMIT2DELIVER ON THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs) 4 AND 5 DURING THE LAST 500 DAYS COUNTDOWN TO THEIR ACHIEVEMENT

In 2000, The Government of Ghana promised that maternal deaths would decrease by 3/4, child deaths would decrease by 2/3 and there would be universal access to reproductive health, as today, August 18th 2014 marks 500 days until the target date to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

It is against this background that HACEP-Ghana, Tamale based youth-led organization that has been implementing Sexual Reproductive Health, Rights (SRHR) and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes for girls, women and young people since 2008 today calls on His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, the President of the Republic of Ghana to commit to deliver on that promise.

The call asks the President to specifically Commit2Deliver on Maternal Death Surveillance & Response, Accountability Process as well as Advocacy & Outreach on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) in Ghana.

This was contained in a letter presented to the Northern Regional Minister to the President at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council today by staff of the organization. As a partner of the Every Woman Every Child movement, HACEP-Ghana is part of a global success story specific to women's and children's health.

In an interview with the Deputy Executive Director of HACEP-Ghana, Miss Inusah Mariam Pagnaaa, who led the staff to the Regional Minister, said, “in the last 500 days, we must all do everything we can to reach the MDG targets and that serious and fast action is required to address the shortfalls in investment in maternal, newborn and child health. She also added that each and every one of the 300 commitment makers, including 70 governments must deliver on their promises to the Global Strategy for Women and Children, We must now #Commit2Deliver”.

According to the Executive Director in a telephone interview, central to ensuring that such commitments are tracked and budgeted for adequately is a thorough accountability mechanism which civil society is actively engaged in. All global and country-level accountability mechanisms should be effective, transparent and inclusive of all stakeholders. Through working together to achieve our goals, we will go so much further.

He added that accountability begins with national sovereignty and the responsibility of a government to its people and to the global community. However, all partners are accountable for the commitments and promises they make and for the health policies and programmes they design and implement.

Of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the two - MDG 4 and 5 - specifically concerned with improving the health of women and children are the furthest from being achieved by 2015. They are in urgent need of innovative and strategic actions, supported by political will and resources for greater impact within this last 500 days.

The organization expressed its heart-felt gratitude to the Regional Minister and the entire staff of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council for the warm reception attention to them during this memorable occasion, they added that as Civil Society their will continue to do their best to contribute effectively to the process of achieving the MDGs before the deadline.

Signed.
PRO-HACEP-Ghana