WITH JUST 500 days left to the 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) deadline, studies show that the goals related to maternal and child health will not be achieved given the staggering figures provided by different reports. 

For instance, the 75 countries covered in Countdown’s 2014 report, Fulfilling the Health Agenda for Women and Children, account for more than 95% of all maternal and child deaths each year. The Countdown‘s 2014 report was released at the 2014 Partners Forum. 

The  Countdown report also shows that in several countries, more than half of the mothers and children in the poorest 20% of the population receive two or fewer of eight interventions deemed essential for preventing or treating common causes of maternal and child deaths, including vaccinations, skilled birth attendance, pneumonia and diarrhoea treatment, and access to family planning.

Women Today’s Doreen Umutesi interviewed women from around the globe who attended the 2014 Partner’s Forum (June 30 – July 1, 2014) in Johannesburg, South Africa, to find out their expectations in the coming 2015 Millennium Development Goals.

My expectation in the post 2015 agenda is the need to look at where we failed in the past MDGs, and in particular, MDG 5. We need to know why it’s the worst performing MDG. We must also look at women’s bodies in a more comprehensive way and not just there for child bearing. They need to know their sexual reproductive rights from adolescence to pre pregnancy, to pregnancy and beyond. We must define what we mean by sexual reproductive health because I don’t think there is a common understanding on what those services entail and that way, it would be very clear for all our countries especially in Africa to implement a much more integrated and comprehensive programme.  

Naisola Likimani- Kenya

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I hope that in the post 2015 agenda, the goals that are set will benefit everyone in the community. Some of the goals set and policies implemented only benefit people in the urban areas and not the rural areas. For instance MDG 5, in most countries catered for only women in the town centres not the villages. 

Melissa Kubvoruno- Zimbabwe

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It’s encouraging that there is so much attention given to women, newborns and child health issues. We have achieved a lot but every time we achieve something, we reach some goals and there are new challenges and new threats that emerge. For instance violence against women is a big issue, so it affects maternal and newborn health. So I think if we address that and make it a priority we will achieve a lot. 

Anjali Neyyar- India

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As a young person and a woman, first, I wish the post 2015 agenda will have a big focus on addressing ways through which all countries can have skilled birth attendants. As a woman I want to be able to go to any hospital and expect skilled personnel to take care of me at the time of labour. As a young person I would like to see more focus on involving the youth in all policy making decisions because the youth bring sustainability to programmes. 

Christelle Kwizera- Rwanda

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I think one of the most important aspects in the post 2015 MDG agenda to me is addressing the issue of equity. We need equal treatment, equal access, equal opportunities for men, women, children and newborns. I believe that each individual no matter where they are from, deserve to have equal rights to health and happiness such as access to health care and education.

Rebecca Disler -New York (USA)

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My expectation in the post 2015 MDGs is to see a goal that will facilitate women to make informed choices about their reproductive health as well as involve men in maternal and child health issues. I’m expecting the maternal and child health goals to be revisited and readdressed. 

 Thembi Zulu- National Department of Health South Africa

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My expectation is that gender violence and sexual violence get more attention. It is important that maternal and child health get full attention too. We have to create a world in which lives are respected. 

Bijoyeta Das- Journalist and photographer

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MDG 5 should be readdressed in the post 2015 agenda. I think there is a gap that needs to be closed especially in regards to access to proper health facilities especially for young women. For example the older generation that accesses contraceptives are treated differently compared to the youth.

Samantha Henkeman, Moxy Communication

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I think I will expect more involvement of women in drafting the post 2015 MDG agenda. Women know the challenges the community face especially in regards to maternal and child health. Women can set goals that are realistic and achievable based on the experience they have in health issues. I’m expecting more resources to be invested in maternal and child health like it was done for HIV/AIDS. 

Precious Robinson- South Africa

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Maternal, newborn and child health is an unfinished agenda. It’s an area that needs to be focused on in 2015. We need to make sure we move towards universal coverage and ensure better health access for women and children. We need to ensure that countries, alongside partners, ensure systematic scale up of the key interventions that we already know that work. We need to make sure that there is investment in the information systems so that by 2030 we are no longer talking about estimates about maternal mortality but real updates.    

Dr Neema Rusibamayila- Tanzania