KAMPALA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- An International Nongovernmental Organization, Save the Children, on Monday urged African heads of state and government attending the 15th African Union (AU) summit here to make more investment in maternal and child health in the continent.
The organization urged the leaders at summit under the them: "Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa" to recognize that investing in maternal and child health is critical to economic development of their countries, said a statement issued here.
A total of 35 African heads of state and government are attending the three-day summit which kicked off here on Sunday with peace and security, the crisis in Somalia high on the agenda.
"Investing in the health of mothers and children is an investment in the development and future of Africa. If mothers die in childbirth, they can not be productive," said Chikezie Anyanwu, the Africa's advocacy advisor for Save the Children.
"If children don't get a health start in life, research shows they won't do as well in school, earn as much, or reach their full potential to support their country's development," she said.
During the debate, the organization said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni appeared to suggest that investment to help expand the economy had to come before the "social expenditures".
