Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan would launch the ‘Save One Million Lives’ Initiative to ensure the survival of mother and child in the country.

The Initiative which would be launched in collaboration with Norwagian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg would hold on Monday, October 15, 2012 at Aso Rock Presidential Villa, will be preceded by technical meetings on essential and life-saving commodities at the weekend at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

This is the first technical and ministerial implementation for the “Saving One Million Lives” Initiative”.

Minister of State for Health, Mr. Muhammad Pate said in a statement that the initiative to save the lives of one million children and women is the brainchild of UN Commission on life saving commodities which aims to save the lives of 16 million women and children by 2015.

President Jonathan and his Norwegian counterpart are co-Chairs of the UN Commission on Essential and Life-saving Commodities.

According to Pate: “The Co-Chairs submitted a final report at the recent United Nations General Assembly held in September, which highlighted the recommended actions and next steps to be taken by countries as part of the “Every Woman, Every Child” (EWEC) Movement. In this regard, Nigeria is hosting the first technical and ministerial implementation meeting from October 14-16, 2012.

“Domestically, Nigeria is demonstrating its commitment to this by setting out an initiative to save lives of women and children. “The President will therefore on this occasion launch Nigeria’s Saving One Million Lives Initiative.”

Among others, the conference aims to share information on the UN Commission, recommendations and implementation plan; best practices to increase access to life-saving commodities and review draft implementations plans and reflect country priorities and needs.

Also, it is to develop milestones and targets for effective country and global level monitoring of implementation and launch the Saving One Million Lives Program

Dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include members of the UN system; and national and foreign delegates dedicated to saving and improving the lives of women and children.