Development Aid

Chris McCafferty
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources his Department has committed to developing countries for (a) improving maternal health and (b) address sexual and reproductive (i) health and (ii) rights in each of the next three years.

Mr. Michael Foster
The UK Government are committed to spending £6 billion on strengthening health systems and services over the seven years to 2015. The Department for International Development's (DFID) country-led development approach is to support recipient governments to spend development assistance on the priorities they set themselves for helping their people out of poverty. These priorities are identified by analysis of the key health needs within countries—including sexual, reproductive and maternal health and rights. Direct support to governments is complimented by support to civil society and other implementing partners.

Chris McCafferty
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to fund programmes for the (a) screening and (b) treatment of ante-natal syphilis in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Foster
The UK Government are investing £6 billion up to 2015 to strengthen health systems that will help to ensure that women in poor countries have access to quality reproductive health care.

The focus of Department for International Development (DFID) supported health system strengthening is to ensure that evidence-based, cost-effective interventions—such as syphilis screening and treatment in antenatal care—are accessible to all who need them.

The International Health Partnership, which was launched by the Prime Minister in September 2007, will help ensure that donor resources are better co-ordinated, that they back strong national health development plans and that they focus on strengthening health systems to deliver better services and improved health outcomes.