New publication highlights ten proven innovations to save women and children now

September 23, 2013 by PATH

Breakthrough health innovations could save 1.2 million mothers and children by the end of 2015
Mother with two babies in her lap, with text, '10 innovations to save lives now. Read the feature.'

Ten affordable, proven health innovations featured in a new publication by PATH and our partners could save an estimated 1.2 million mothers and children in developing countries by the end of 2015 with focused efforts to bring them to scale now.

The publication–Breakthrough Innovations That Can Save Women and Children Now–was released September 23 by PATH, the government of Norway, the United Nations Foundation, and the MDG Health Alliance during a day of sessions focused on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) hosted by the UN Secretary-General. The sessions were part of the 68th annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York.

The publication, which includes an introduction by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, highlights lifesaving health solutions for women, newborns, and children. The ten featured innovations include technologies, medicines, devices, and health system innovations and were selected by international experts from dozens of solutions because they are proven to be effective, ready to be deployed between now and the end of 2015, and have high potential for impact.

These innovations address the leading killers of women, newborns, and children worldwide. They include an antishock garment to slow excessive bleeding after childbirth, a low-cost antiseptic to prevent deadly newborn infections, a vaccine to protect children from diarrhea, and a backpack with lifesaving supplies for community health workers on the front lines of health care.

A call for financial and political commitment

Together, these innovations can help countries reach their MDG targets to reduce maternal and child mortality by December 2015.

The publication calls for a focused commitment of resources and political will to provide broad access to these innovations where they are needed most.