Global health with long-term perspectives

Abstract

Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura refers to several important points in his Comment (Dec 15, p 1983).1Koumura M Global health and Japan's foreign policy.Lancet. 2007; 370: 1983-1985Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (13) Google Scholar I was encouraged by the fact that this influential Japanese politician mentioned the importance of maternal, neonatal, and child health as a global issue, especially since Japan will be the chair country of the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development and the 2008 G8 Summit in Toyako. Health is one of the main components of human security, as he mentions. Nevertheless, the issue of maternal, neonatal, and child health has rarely been picked up as an agenda item in previous summits.Koumura's comments also cover a wide range of health issues and might be criticised for lacking focus. However, to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality—the targets of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5—we need a comprehensive and continuous care system as part of the national health system, including antenatal care, tetanus vaccination for all women of reproductive age, improvement of nutritional status of women, and, a care delivery system.2Lawn JE Cousens S Zupan J for the Lancet Neonatal Survival Steering Team4 million neonatal deaths: When? Where? Why?.Lancet. 2005; 365: 891-900Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2562) Google Scholar, 3Ronsmans C Graham W on behalf of the Lancet Maternal Survival Series steering groupMaternal mortality: who, when, where, and why.Lancet. 2006; 368: 1189-1200Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1183) Google Scholar The importance of national health system has also been mentioned by other partners.4WHOEverybody's business. Strengthening health systems to improve health outcomes: a framework for action. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland2004http://www.who.int/healthsystems/gf13.pdfGoogle Scholar A good comprehensive health system can be established through the integration of existing disease-specific systems such as those for childhood immunisation; HIV/AIDS; and maternal, neonatal, and child health.To date, our organisation has implemented various health projects in more than 20 developing countries. According to our experience, it takes a long time to strengthen health systems, including development of human resources. This is the time to start to think about global health with long-term perspectives.I declare that I have no conflict of interest. Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura refers to several important points in his Comment (Dec 15, p 1983).1Koumura M Global health and Japan's foreign policy.Lancet. 2007; 370: 1983-1985Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (13) Google Scholar I was encouraged by the fact that this influential Japanese politician mentioned the importance of maternal, neonatal, and child health as a global issue, especially since Japan will be the chair country of the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development and the 2008 G8 Summit in Toyako. Health is one of the main components of human security, as he mentions. Nevertheless, the issue of maternal, neonatal, and child health has rarely been picked up as an agenda item in previous summits. Koumura's comments also cover a wide range of health issues and might be criticised for lacking focus. However, to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality—the targets of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5—we need a comprehensive and continuous care system as part of the national health system, including antenatal care, tetanus vaccination for all women of reproductive age, improvement of nutritional status of women, and, a care delivery system.2Lawn JE Cousens S Zupan J for the Lancet Neonatal Survival Steering Team4 million neonatal deaths: When? Where? Why?.Lancet. 2005; 365: 891-900Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2562) Google Scholar, 3Ronsmans C Graham W on behalf of the Lancet Maternal Survival Series steering groupMaternal mortality: who, when, where, and why.Lancet. 2006; 368: 1189-1200Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1183) Google Scholar The importance of national health system has also been mentioned by other partners.4WHOEverybody's business. Strengthening health systems to improve health outcomes: a framework for action. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland2004http://www.who.int/healthsystems/gf13.pdfGoogle Scholar A good comprehensive health system can be established through the integration of existing disease-specific systems such as those for childhood immunisation; HIV/AIDS; and maternal, neonatal, and child health. To date, our organisation has implemented various health projects in more than 20 developing countries. According to our experience, it takes a long time to strengthen health systems, including development of human resources. This is the time to start to think about global health with long-term perspectives. I declare that I have no conflict of interest.