Magufuli hails Kikwete over UN Mother, Child Health Group appointment ”

DAILY NEWS Reporter

PRESIDENT John Magufuli has congratulated his predecessor, Mr Jakaya Kikwete, for being elected by the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, a member of the High-Level Advisory Group for Every Woman Every Child.

The group will help provide leadership and inspire ambitious action for women, children and adolescents’ health during the transition from the Millennium Development Goals to the universal Sustainable Development Goals agenda.

The panel is led by co-chairs; namely Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn as Mr Kikwete and retired Finland President Tarja Halonen were appointed Alternate Chairs.

In his message, Dr Magufuli said that Mr Kikwete’s appointment has put Tanzania among the world’s most respected nations in addition to serving as a catalyst for renewed hope in the health challenges for the mother and child, especially in developing countries.

The president pledged his government’s cooperation in ensuring successful achievement and sustainability of the team’s objectives and ultimate goal of ensuring good health for the mother and child.

“Women, children and adolescents are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda,” said Ki-moon, in making the appointments.

“Continued commitment, leadership and action will be critical to achieving our goal of ending all preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents by 2030 and enabling them to reach their full potential.”