Union Health Minister praises PMNCH

New Delhi: Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday lauded the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) for its commitment to the well-being of women, children and adolescents. The 33rd meeting of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) Board began on July 4 in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting will conclude on July 5. Delivering the keynote address through video message at the opening session of the board meeting, Nadda, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the PMNCH Board, reiterated the Indian government’s assurance to take the issue forward and promote meaningful participation of youth. He underlined the importance of accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focusing on preparing for the post-2030 agenda. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director (NHM) in the Ministry of Health is leading the Indian delegation at the 33rd Board Meeting of PMNCH in Geneva. The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) is the world’s largest coalition committed to protecting and promoting the health, well-being and rights of women, children and adolescents.

The vision of PMNCH is a world in which every woman, child and adolescent realises her right to health and well-being, and no one is left behind. PMNCH is governed by a Board and administered by a Secretariat hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. The 33rd PMNCH Board Meeting will provide an opportunity for Board members to agree on key priorities and opportunities for PMNCH to advance maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and adolescent well-being goals in the final period of our current 2021-2025 strategy. It will also initiate discussions on priorities for the development of the 2026-2030 PMNCH Strategy, including how PMNCH should position its issues and itself in relation to the post-2030 UN Development Goal-setting process. (ANI)