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Despite tremendous progress in extending life expectancy and reducing childhood deaths from disease, the world still faces major challenges in health.
Every year, almost 11 million children under 5 die; HIV/AIDS claims about 3 million lives; tuberculosis, 2 million; and malaria, 1.2 million. As well, 529,000 women die of causes related to childbirth. The vast majority of these deaths occur in developing countries, where poverty and marginalization increase vulnerability and where under-funded health systems combine to limit progress against these threats to human health.
CIDA provides assistance
to improve the nutrition and health
of poor and vulnerable populations.
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The global community has identified health as a top priority. Three of the eight Millennium Development Goals directly target health. Canada is among the major donors to developing country health programs, including multilateral health initiatives relating to HIV/AIDS and children's health.
Canada has identified health as a programming priority in Canada's development cooperation program. Canada will assist countries to improve health outcomes, particularly among the poorest, through a focus on: preventing and controlling high-burden, communicable, poverty-linked diseases (especially HIV/AIDS); strengthening the capacity of health systems; improving infant and child health; strengthening sexual and reproductive health; and improving food security.
CIDA's Agenda for Action on Global Health, announced in September 2005, takes a two-pronged approach:
- stepping up efforts to prevent and control poverty-related diseases; and
- working with developing country partners to ensure that initiatives to reduce the disease burden, especially in Africa, are built on sustainable health delivery systems.
Special Days
Related CIDA Sites
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