Jhpiego receives $500M to address maternal, child deaths around the world

Jhpiego, a global nonprofit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, has been chosen to lead the U.S. government's flagship effort to end preventable maternal and child deaths around the world.

The Maternal and Child Survival Program, a five-year, $500 million agreement supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will accelerate the expansion of innovative, high-impact health approaches in 24 priority countries in an effort to save the lives of women and children in need.

"Jhpiego is honored to have been chosen to lead the U.S. government's largest global health program aimed at reducing maternal, newborn, and child deaths, a responsibility we proudly carry on behalf of the American people," said Jhpiego President and CEO Leslie Mancuso. "With strong leadership from USAID and support from our partners, we look forward to ensuring that where women and families live does not determine if they live."

Added USAID administrator Rajiv Shah: "This award will empower our agency to tackle the leading causes of maternal and child death, even in the world's most difficult environments. By scaling up high-impact, cost-effective solutions that expand access to lifesaving care, we can unlock opportunity and growth for the world's most vulnerable people."

Jhpiego has 40 years of experience targeting the leading causes of maternal mortality, including uncontrolled bleeding after birth, infections, and high blood pressure during pregnancy; newborn deaths, including birth asphyxia and low birth-weight; and under-5 deaths due to pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea.

The new project will engage government leaders, policymakers, health care providers, and other key stakeholders to ensure that high-quality, integrated services reach women, families, and communities, particularly marginalized and vulnerable populations. It will also incorporate several cross-cutting approaches to this effort, including improving quality, engaging partners in the private sector, using innovative approaches to overcome previously insurmountable barriers, and mobilizing communities to identify local priorities, resources, and solutions.

The Maternal and Child Survival Program carries forward the momentum and lessons learned from the highly successful USAID-funded and Jhpiego-led Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program, which has helped improve the health of women and children in more than 50 developing countries throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. As part of the program, more than 4 million women have received family planning counseling, nearly 1.8 million babies have been delivered with the help of a skilled birth attendant, and child immunization programs have been expanded in 14 countries.

"Jhpiego's ongoing commitment to connecting Johns Hopkins researchers and scientists to global practice enables transformational solutions around the world," Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels said. "We are incredibly proud to be part of this new endeavor and look forward to supporting Jhpiego's lifesaving efforts."