Every era offers something special. In my opinion, the most special thing about our current time is the incredible opportunity that scientific advances have provided in the field of global health. Many of these current advances have given us the ability to completely control highly dangerous infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The recent progress is breathtaking. If we can harness the funds needed, we can take these diseases offff the table as threats to greater development.

The risk of dying before the age of five is about 30 times higher in Sub Saharan Africa than it is in Sweden. Even more unacceptable is the fact that the risk of maternal mortality is over 100 times higher in Sub SaharanAfrica than in high-income countries. As Sweden’s Minister for International DevelopmentCooperation,I feelan obligationtotakerealaction.

A maternal health advocate for the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities forWomen and Children, a ‘Global Champion’ for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, and a member of the Women’s Rights Division for Human RightsWatch advisory board.

How long do you think it takes for a woman to bleed to death? Minutes, hours or the agonizing lifetimes of the children left behind; their hopes, dreams of an education, well-being and survival. Every year, nearly 71,800 women answer this question as around the world, nearly 71,800 women bleed to death during pregnancy and childbirth. Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of death amongst women, and is arguably the most preventable. Imagine, these mothers saved, their families left intact, countless children able to reap the enormous benefit from their mother’s care. The powerful and positive ripple effect of a mother’s survival benefits families, communities and nations.

As a developing country with vast human resources and a rapidly-growing economy, reforming Egypt's health care sector is a top priority for the national social development agenda.

This sector had not been overlooked, even before the Egyptian revolution took place in early 2011, there was a concrete governmental vision for a healthcare system in 2025. Today, the current political situation confronting Egypt as it weaves its new future poses numerous challenges on many fronts, most important of which is mobilizing more economic resources for developing our human assets. Therefore, it is only natural that such a vision for health enhancement will gain more traction and becomes a paramount pillar guiding the process of the needed health care reform to build upon achieved past successes, while working to address upcoming challenges.