PM Modi inaugurates Global Call To Action 2015 Summit in Delhi

As the global goal to reduce the mortality rate for children under five by 60 percent appears unlikely by it’s December deadline, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the 2015 Call to Action Summit with some good news. “We could train personnel for better management of child sickness as well as share our experience at home-based newborn care”, Modi said.

The delegation members said that the spread of terrorism in the name of Islam represented a danger to peace all over the world, and there was urgent need to take action to marginalize the forces promoting “Jihad” for social, economic or political considerations.

Mr. Modi also underlined NDA government’s commitment to ensuring that no child in the country dies of a vaccine-preventable disease.

He joins more than half a million workers let go from sites around India’s capital in the last 18 months, in a stark sign that the ground reality in Asia’s third-largest economy is far from as rosy as official data suggests. The Health Minister said that the Prime Ministers vision of the Swachcha Bharat Abhiyan has a direct influence and impact on health outcomes in the country.

He said as India celebrates the success, it looks forward to effective partnership and collaboration.

India’s infant mortality rate (IMR) stands at 40 while the maternal mortality rate (MMR) stands at 167, which is far less when compared to that in 1990 when the IMR was 380, and MMR was 540.

It is time to build on our achievements and strengths.

In contrast to other countries, India did not carry out massive tetanus vaccination campaigns and the government instead applied a mix of strategies which included a state by state and system approach starting in 2003 in Andhra Pradesh, with the technical support of UNICEF, WHO and other stakeholders.

He said he has witnessed people getting financially weak because of “unfortunate health episodes” and proposed to “institutionalise a system where marginalised communities receive universal health care and financial protection”. As many as 24 high priority countries are participating in the two-day summit.

Indian Health Minister J.P. Nadda and the health ministers of several nations including Senegal, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Ethiopia were among those who are attending the worldwide conference.