Grand Challenge 3: Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health
The Challenge
The onset of labour marks the start of a high-risk period for both mother and baby that does not ease until at least 48 hours after birth. During this short period of time, an estimated 150,000 maternal deaths, 1.6 million neonatal deaths, and 1.2 million stillbirths occur annually.
Over 200 million children fail to reach their cognitive potential as a result of exposure to poverty-related risk factors–malnutrition, infection, poor management of pregnancy and birth, and lack of stimulation and nurturing–in the first thousand days (from conception to 2 years of age). This failure serves to lock societies into poverty. Effective, targeted interventions may unlock the potential of the next generation of children to solve the problems burdening their societies.
There are two major initiatives in this grand challenge. They are Saving Lives at Birth and Saving Brains.
Saving Lives at Birth
The goal of the Saving Lives at Birth program is to leapfrog conventional approaches for prevention and treatment services to women and newborns in poor, rural communities. The partnership of funders seeks innovative ideas in three main domains: (1) technology; (2) service delivery; and (3) “demand side” innovations that empower women and their families to be aware of, and access, health care around the time of birth. There is an emphasis on integrated innovations which marry technology, social, and business innovation.
Saving Brains: Unlocking Potential for Development
The goal of the Saving Brains initiative is focused on identifying and developing effective solutions for promoting cognitive development and long-term human capital formation in the face of poverty. The complexity of the issue requires Integrated Innovation, which is at the heart of the Grand Challenges Canada approach.
Mrs. Laureen Harper is the Honorary Chair of Saving Brains.
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