G8 summit: Poor Countries’ Mothers and Children Helped by G8

The Group of Eight (G8) and other donor groups have offered to help the mothers and children in poor and undeveloped countries with the sum of $7.3 billion by 2015. The aid will help reduce child mortality and save women in poor countries from serious complications during child birth. The news about the aid was presented by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday.

The eight countries in the G8 have offered $5 billion, the rest of the money was offered by New Zealand, Norway and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr Harper called this act a “historic commitment” and added the following: “Women in developing countries will not suffer and die any more for reasons of pregnancy and childbirth.”

This amount of money is not enough though, much less then the $24 billion the United Nations needs to solve all problems. Robert Fox of Oxfam (an international confederation of 14 like-minded organizations working together and with partners and allies around the world to bring about lasting change) said that this amount of $7.3 billion is “lower than our lowest expectations.” Mr. Harper said that he is aware that the funds fall short, but in the current economical conditions and budget restrictions imposed by the global financial crisis.