Gates Foundation Commits $1.5 Billion to Save Women’s and Children’s Lives

On June 7^th, at the Women Deliver conference in Washington, D.C., the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation made a pledge that will boost support for international family planning.  Gates Foundation Co-Chair Melinda Gates announced that the Gates Foundation would be committing $1.5 Billion over the next five years to maternal and child health, family planning, and nutrition programs in developing countries. Gates said, “Every year, millions of newborns die within a matter of days or weeks, and hundreds of thousands of women die in childbirth. The death toll is so huge, and has persisted for so long, it’s easy to think we’re powerless to do much about it. The truth is, we can prevent most of these deaths – and at a stunningly low cost – if we take action now.”

View Melinda Gates Announcement here:

http://www.livestream.com/womendeliver/video?clipId=pla_7e848eb5-43eb-41e4-a5d3-e6de7cab31bc&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

Gates Foundation Release:

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/women-deliver-2010-100607.aspx