United Nations Day 2006:  “Maternal Health & Well-Being:
A Cornerstone of the Millennium Development Goals”

UN Secretary-General’s Message for UN Day 2006
2006 UN Day Report Form

Each of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) focuses on a different aspect of the human condition, from tackling poverty and disease to improving literacy and nutrition. The MDGs seek to improve the lives of the world’s majority—that is, the poorest individuals living in today’s developing countries. A healthy and educated mother is at the center of these efforts to raise the level of human development at the local level. A mother with access to prenatal care and a skilled birthing attendant, knowledge of the importance of safe drinking water and nutrition, and training in the care of newborns is more apt to raise healthy children. A healthy mother is more able to contribute to the economic well-being of a household. A healthy mother can be an active participant in her children’s lives, encouraging them to attend school and to understand the dangers of HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

UNA-USA will highlight the role that a healthy mother plays in the development of families and communities worldwide on October 24, 2006—UN Day—with the theme, “Maternal Health & Well-Being: A Cornerstone of the Millennium Development Goals.” We hope that this theme will not only shed light on the challenges faced by mothers in the developing world, but that it will also tap into United States concerns regarding the role that mothers and families play in establishing a brighter future for our own communities.

Download the  2006 United Nations Day Community Organizer’s Guide.

On page 27 of UNA-USA’s publication, the 2006 United Nations Day Community Organizer’s Guide, an error appears with reference to USAID’s initiatives involving safe breastfeeding.  The sentence that begins on the fourth line of the second paragraph should read:

“USAID initiatives, which DISCOURAGE mixing breastfeeding with other liquid foods for children with HIV-positive mothers, have been successful in reducing the risk of MTCT in developing countries.” 

UNA-USA apologizes for this error.

Tips and Resources

Materal Heath and Well-Being PowerPoint
Maternal Health Sample OpEd
UNA-USA Fact Sheet: Millennium Development Goal 5- Improve Maternal Health
Planning UN Day On Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

Family Planning
Prenatal Care
Nutrition
Safe Breastfeeding
Safe Delivery

What Works and Who’s Doing It

The United Nations and its agencies, in addition to other government, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector, have made maternal health a major focus of the new millennium.  Engaging in efforts to make prenatal, labor and neonatal care accessible to the women who need it most, these agencies have made strides in remedying a problem that affects millions of women each year.  Although there is still much to be done to improve maternal heath, below are some initiatives that are making pregnancy safer for mothers around the world. 

United Nations
US Government
Non-Governmental Organizations
Private Sector