Foreword
In the last 20 years, the world has saved more than 50 million children’s lives and reduced maternal mortality by one-third. These accomplishments have been the result of good science, good management, bipartisan political support, the engagement of USAID and many other U.S. Government agencies, and the participation of faith-based organizations, civil society, and the private sector.
The American people and their partners can feel very proud of their contributions to these extraordinary achievements. With prospects for ending preventable child and maternal deaths, creating an AIDS-free generation, and laying the foundations for universal health coverage, future generations will look back at this period as a turning point in the history of global health.
Advancements in global health benefit not only people in the developing world, but also are of direct value to U.S. citizens. We are succeeding in our efforts to make the world a healthier place, to enhance the well-being of individuals and nations around the globe, and to make the world a safer, more peaceful place in which to live, grow, and thrive.
USAID’s health development efforts for 2010–2011 are summarized in this Foreword report: Global Health and Child Survival: Progress Report to Congress 2010–2011.
The Agency’s work is guided by President Barack Obama’s Global Health Initiative, a “smart power” strategy that incorporates a focus on women, girls, and gender equality; encourages and supports country ownership; builds strengthened health systems; and leverages public and private partnerships to accomplish the greatest good.
USAID programs save the lives of poor and vulnerable people. While focusing on increased integration of services under the Global Health Initiative, we are:
• Striving to create an AIDS-free generation through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
• Reducing the burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa through the President’s Malaria Initiative
• Expanding access to family planning information and services, and enhancing the ability of couples to decide the number and spacing of births
• Saving the lives of mothers and newborns by targeting the complications of pregnancy and birth
• Reducing child undernutrition in food-insecure countries in conjunction with the Feed the Future initiative
• Aiming for the end of preventable child deaths by expanding access to immunization and other critical interventions
• Expanding Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course for tuberculosis
• Working toward control of seven of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases
• Strengthening health systems governance, health financing reform, and smart integration of health services
Cost-effectiveness is a driving factor in all of USAID’s programs. USAID has been a leader in leveraging technology for development, and innovations, such as mobile health, provide new opportunities for doing more with less. The Agency continues to develop new strategic partnerships with the private sector, other U.S. agencies and, increasingly, the governments of the countries we support to realize maximum return on our investments.
This report documents accelerating success in child survival and global health in the developing world. While we have made much progress, there is still work to be done. By working collaboratively and efficiently, we can create a world where every child, no matter where he or she is born, has an equal opportunity to survive and lead a happy and productive life.
