Links built for maternal health group in Ivory Coast

The foundations of a scheme to help improve maternal health and reduce child mortality in Africa have been laid in the Ivory Coast.

Health care leaders in the country have met with United Methodist representatives to discuss increasing the support for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

This meeting was also attended by representatives of ten African countries and the Global Fund, which fights TB, AIDS and malaria in the continent.

Running for one week, the meeting has been focused on developing a plan of action to make UMCOR more effective.

Sam Dixon, Global Ministries' deputy general secretary for UMCOR and Global Health, commented: "This gathering laid the foundation for our ongoing cooperative work.

"Working together, we can make a real impact…aiming to reduce maternal and child mortality and combat the devastating effect of diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS on African communities."

According to the Global Health Council, the child mortality rate has increased in at least 15 countries in the last 17 years.

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